ALMOST £9m could be spent on expanding a school and protecting wildlife habitats.

At its next meeting (September 27) Wiltshire Council’s cabinet will consider spending the bulk of the £8.75m in community infrastructure levy (CIL) funds on expanding Abbeyfield School in Chippenham.

This will help to meet the growing number of pupils attending the school.

Cabinet will also decide whether to award £2.32 in CIL funding to schemes to help manage and protect wildlife habitats.

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This cash will help to manage the impact of development on the Bradford on Avon Special Area of Conservation and Salisbury Plain and New Forest protected sites.

Cabinet member for spatial planning, Nick Botterill said: “The CIL is an effective tool to generate funding from developers and allow for investment in our communities when they build new homes.

“We’re asking Cabinet to approve spending some of the CIL fund on expanding Abbeyfield School in Chippenham, and on protecting important wildlife habitats in the north and south of the county.

“If approved, the funding will pay for the first phase of expansion at Abbeyfield School, with an extra 150 places created for pupils. Work would be expected to start in the summer of 2023, with completion expected by summer 2024.”