Plans to demolish a historic school building in Newport have been delayed after bats were found at the site. Hundreds of pupils at St Andrew's Primary School on Jenkins Street were unable to return to classrooms after "significant structural issues" were found at the school's junior building in March 2021.
Inspections at the time led to Newport City Council closing the building immediately on safety grounds, with around 340 pupils and staff - including all key stage two pupils and staff - moved to Newport Live’s Connect Centre, where they have been ever since. Key stage one and nursery pupils remain at St Andrew's as their building is not affected.
The issues at the 100-year-old building were later found to be more significant than first feared, and in May this year it was announced that it was to be demolished and replaced after Welsh Government approved a £10 million project to fund its replacement, with all pupils to return in September 2023.
