THE opening of a primary school at a new Didcot housing estate has been put back a year.

The 400-place school will now open at Great Western Park in September 2016.

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) said the “planning permission and construction process” was taking longer than anticipated.

A spokesman said there would be enough places at other schools for families who had moved on to the estate.

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More than 3,300 houses are planned for the development – between the A4130 and Wantage Road – and 600 homes are already occupied.

The two-form entry school will be run by GEMS Learning Trust, which owns and operates 46 schools, including 30 in the United Arab Emirates.

Spokesman Owen Morton said: “To give families certainty over the availability of places at the school, GEMS and OCC have agreed to delay opening until September 2016.

“This was seen as a better and less disruptive option for pupils than targeting an opening date within the academic year, using temporary classrooms until the completion of building work.

“As such, applications will not be sought for places at the school until next year’s admissions process begins, that is, for entry in September 2016.”

He said: “While this will be disappointing for families who may have been hoping to apply for a place for their children at the academy next year, there will still be sufficient existing school places available locally for every child who needs one in September 2015.”

Town councillor Margaret Davies said: “This is disappointing when young families are already moving into the area.”

She said it would put more pressure on schools like Stephen Freeman Community Primary School and Manor School.

She said: “Sadly, it also stops parents meeting each other at the school gates and forming a community.

“Schools perform various social functions and education is just one of them.

“If you have a large housing area with no shops or community buildings, like GWP, the school is very important.”

She said she hoped the delay would give the council more time to look again at parking plans for parents.

The town council objected to the initial plan as it provided no parking for non-staff members.

This led to concerns that parents would drop children off in nearby streets.

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