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Dudley's children's services chief says council taxpayers will not foot the bill for a 14 percent new school overspend. The final cost of the new Pens Meadow School building in Pensnett is predicted to be £17.7m, an increase of £2.7m on the original budget. Plans for a new school, to replace run down facilities for children with complex special needs, were approved against the advice of the council's then-chief finance officer. Read more: Call for stalled Eton College plan in Midlands town to be scrapped Read more: Midlands council leader tells remote workers 'get back to the real world’ Councillor Wayne Little, Dudley cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The project did go slightly over budget due to material costs increasing significantly industry-wide over the course of the project, although we did have contingencies for this built in. "There will be no additional cost to the council as the additional funds will be supported from the Capital Needs allocations provided by the Department for Education (DfE)." The new Tiled House Lane campus is expected to be fully operational by January 2026 and will cater for up to 155 pupils aged between three and 19. It includes a range of facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, a rebound pit, a large trampoline sunk into the floor, therapy rooms, outdoor teaching and play areas, a forest school area and 14 larger classrooms where the layouts can be adapted for children with additional needs. Rather than being concerned about the extra cost of the project, Cllr Little believes taxpayers will eventually be better off. He added: "The school will provide year on year savings by not having to use expensive out of borough placements with associated transport payments, while keeping our most vulnerable children closer to their home communities. Want the latest headlines and breaking news emailed to your inbox? Sign up here, it’s free. "We expect to see a full year saving of between £0.8m and £1.3m annually from this additional internal specialist capacity. "The Pens Meadow school is a wonderful resource for our children and young people with special needs. "This purpose-built centre means we can provide the specialist care and education they deserve."
