THE council's cabinet has agreed to provide the land needed for a new post-16 special educational needs school to be created in Hereford.

Herefordshire Council's cabinet meeting heard that part of the former site of Broadlands Primary School would be released for the new school, which would be funded through the government’s free school programme.

The council was successful in applying for a new government funded special free school to be established in Herefordshire. A competitive process is being undertaken to select the promoter for the new school, managed by the council in partnership with the Department for Education.

The cabinet also approved retaining the part of the school site not required for the new school for other educational purposes or for development.

Broadlands Primary School moved from the site to a specially designed facility on the Aylestone Business and Enterprise College site in September 2015.

Mr J Shepherd, a member of the public, asked the cabinet meeting if the council would offer some of the remainder for the site to the "outstanding nursery already on site on favourable terms to allow them to remain in the area?"

Cllr Harry Bramer said the council is working with Bright Sparks to enable them to continue to provide the valuable service to preschool children in the area.