A new primary school could be built near a major housing development in west Cumbria.

Developer Story Homes has already paid nearly £550,000 towards supporting a new primary school, local junction improvements and bus services.

And it is set to plough a further £1.8m into local provisions as part of the large-scale 570-home housing development in Whitehaven. The developer has already built homes at Wilson Howe and Edgehill Park, and more details about the development phases are being put forward.

A Story Homes spokeswoman said: “With regard to local infrastructure contributions, to date we have paid £548,656 to Copeland

Council towards local junction improvements, bus service implementation and a primary school contribution.

“We are still to pay £1,841,966 towards affordable housing provision and further contributions to the bus service and primary school.”

Copeland Council, which is the planning authority, receives the money and then forwards it to Cumbria County Council.

The Story Homes spokeswoman added: “We will lease an area of land at the north of the site to Cumbria County Council or other education provider for the planned primary school.

“The Section 106 payments provided by Story Homes to the council now, and in the future, would contribute towards the school building. The setting up and running of the school is the responsibility of Cumbria County Council or other education provider alongside the Department for Education.”

Story Homes said its housing plans for the land is divided into 10 phases.

The spokeswoman said: “Phase one was our Wilson Howe development, which is a small development of just 30 homes. This phase is almost complete, with just six homes left to be occupied.

“Phase two is our Edgehill Park development. This phase is 109 homes in total, of which 38 are complete and 26 are currently under construction.”

“The planning application due to be heard on Wednesday is for phases three and four which will be 96 homes. Subject to planning, we would start construction in 2019.”

The proposals are for 15 different house styles of three, four and five family homes.

Copeland Council planners are being recommended to visit the site.

A council report states: “The scale of the proposed development raises a number of planning issues and as such it is considered appropriate for members to undertake a site visit to fully appraise all of the material planning consideration prior to the determination of this application.”

Story Homes said phases five to 10 are subject to future reserved matters applications for up to 335 homes. However, it expects this number will be less.

Phase five would have an estimated start date of 2022.