Proposed public spending freeze to affect schools in Derby

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The new government proposed a freeze on public sector spending which could affect Derby's schools regeneration project.Schools in Derby and the council have been working for four years on Building Schools for the Future project worth £206m.

However, there are fears that the new national Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration will re-evaluate the programmes that have not reached the preferred bidder stage, including Derby.

Schools planned for rebuilding includes Lees Brook Community Sports College and Noel-Baker Community School which had been due to start next year, St Clare's and St Martin's special schools, with nine others due for refurbishment costing between £5m and £25m, together with three projects for Kingsmead School satellite sites.

The city council is hoping that its BSF project is sufficiently well-advanced to be allowed to carry on.