New Eastern Villages schools: £55.3m gap after Government withdraws funding

Swindon Borough Council published its response on Friday 10 July 2026. The Department for Education (DfE) had decided not to go ahead with free school funding for two schools planned for Swindon's New Eastern Villages (NEV), an area of significant housing development.

The schools were planned for Great Stall East and Lotmead to meet the demand for places created by the new homes. The council said delivering both itself would leave it with a funding shortfall of £55.3 million.

Councillor Kate Tomlinson, cabinet member for children and education, said: "We are incredibly disappointed".

What does it mean for school places?

The council said some schools in the New Eastern Villages were already close to capacity and planning to expand, and that demand was growing, including for places for children with special educational needs and disabilities. It said it hoped the Government would reconsider, as housing targets will push pupil numbers up.

What was the council considering?

• Working with existing schools to raise their published admission numbers where that is workable
• Expanding or adapting existing school buildings
• Continuing talks with the DfE on capital schemes, including School Rebuilding Programme projects at Lawn Manor Academy, Wroughton Infants and Highworth Warneford
• Reviewing its planning assumptions, including whether more building schemes are needed

The council said it was reviewing the effect on its school place planning for the New Eastern Villages and the rest of the borough, working with schools, academy trusts and the DfE. It gave no dates for decisions.

Source: Swindon Borough Council.

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