A NEW school which has been plagued by building problems now has a third contractor to finish the construction work. 

Building work at Highwood Copse, a primary school in Newbury, will likely continue next month after Feltham Construction was chosen to finish the job.

The building was delayed by seven months, after the previous contractor Dawnus collapsed. 

According to West Berkshire Council, the building should be finished by spring 2020, so parents and children can visit the school before it opens next September. 

Councillor Dominic Boeck (Con, Aldermaston), lead member for education, said: “We are pleased to have Feltham Construction on board and look forward to work restarting next month. 

“We’re working with them to ensure the new school is now ready for 2020 and coordinating with the Academy Trust to ensure pupils and parents are well informed in selecting their preferred school places.”

The school, on the grounds of Newbury College, was due to open this month.

However, ‘high increases’ in building costs from the first contractor, Kier, led the council to switch to Dawnus instead. 

Dawnus then went into administration in the middle of March earlier this year, when work on the school stopped immediately. 

Following Dawnus collapsing, the council put the contract out to tender to just two companies to finish the job. This is unusual and an exception to the council’s contract laws had to be approved by the executive in April.