Funding set aside for a new primary school has more than doubled with the increase being described as "alarming" and "very worrying".

County councillors approved a budget increase from £5.965m to £13.959m for the St Nicholas C.O.E Primary School in Wallingford at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

John Howson, cabinet member for children, education and young people's services, said: "The cost of St Nicholas Primary School in Wallingford has gone up by more than 50 per cent.

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"If that's an indication of the consequences of inflationary pressures on the construction market in the south east that is a very worrying figure."

The county council's finance chief Dan Levy added there was some comfort the money was coming from section 106 but noted "it is an alarming increase".

Oxford Mail: Councillor Dan Levy Councillor Dan Levy (Image: West Oxfordshire District Council)Additional budget will indeed be met by section 106 contributions as well as 'basic need'.

Section 106 means developer contributions to the community it is building in.

'Basic need' refers to government funding given to local authorities each year to "help them fulfil their duty to make sure there are enough school places for children in their local area".

A plan for the two-form entry primary school was granted planning permission by South Oxfordshire District Council on September 1, with places for 420 children, 14 classrooms and a 30-place nursery.

The school will form part of the larger Highcroft development, which will result in 555 homes built to the west of the town on land off Wantage Road.