DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram visited Rowde on Friday to witness the exchange of contracts between the governors of Rowde Primary School and developers Persimmon Homes, who have agreed to build a new school on a greenfield site on the Devizes edge of the village.

After months of consultation, the governors and the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education reached agreement with Persimmon to hand over the existing school site in exchange for the developers building a brand-new school, at a cost of £2 million.

The new building will cost the school governors nothing, as it will be financed by the sale of the present school site, which will be developed for housing.

Mr Ancram attended a brief meeting at the school on Friday where he was shown plans of the new school and given further information about the project and its progress to date.

The governors have now secured the approval of the Secretary of State for Education and the local education authority.