THE government has stepped in to say it will ensure the future of a controversial new school in Aveley after news that its builders have gone bust!

Hull-based Eco Modular Building Ltd, the major contractor for the new Harrier Primary Academy, has announced its intention to appoint administrators.

And it has pulled plant and machinery off the site on Love Lane.

Planning permission was controversially granted by Thurrock Council last year for the school, which was widely opposed by local residents and ward councillors.

The proposal for the 'Harrier Primary School' is on land adjacent to A13 and Love Lane and is for a building, with associated facilities including playing fields, that will evenutally accommodate 420 primary school pupils and 52 nursery children.

Many local residents see the school as a 'Trojan horse', used to set planning precedent in the local green belt and then developers will follow up with housing schemes.

Supporters of the scheme have argued the contrary argument, ie the council is putting infrastucture in place before housing!

Eco Modular Building Ltd is the main contractor for the site build - which has reached the stage where footings appear to be in place for some building but there are still a lot of groundworks to be completed.

The company, which manages preparatory works, puts the buildings together elsewhere and then brings them to the site almost complete, has been in business since 2011 and has worked with a series of major contractors specialising in the education sector.

A panoramic view of the Love Lane site.

Its latest accounts for the year to December 31, 2021 show a turnover of £33.5m generating a pre-tax profit of £244,000.

During the year the firm employed 77 staff and owed £5m to trade creditors. That debt now appears to have crippled the company.

A statement issued today (Monday, 13 March) says: "The Department for Education is working to explore all viable options for opening the school as soon as possible.

"Formal communications will be provided by the Reach2 Academy Trust to parents that applied for a school place and community members who expressed an interest in the school.

It was expected that the school would be accepting up to 30 reception class children in Septmber and it has invited parents to make applications.