Work is set to recommence on a multi-million pound school project in the Vale of Glamorgan months after the firm initially behind it collapsed.

Construction work stalled on Ysgol Llyn Derw, the second site to special needs school Ysgol y Deri, after it was announced in September that ISG Construction Ltd was going into administration.

Vale of Glamorgan Council has recently appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to take on the project, located on land in Cosmeston, Penarth. The firm is currently developing a work plan before construction recommences.

Vale of Glamorgan Council’s leader, Cllr Lis Burnett, said the local authority is delighted that Morgan Sindall has agreed to take on the project.

When asked for her thoughts on the collapse of ISG and delays to the project, she said: “It was quite devastating because we know a lot of the people in ISG and we are really sad that they have all lost their jobs.

“This happens, but what we will say… is two of our housing developments were ones that failed under previous developers and we took them on, and not only have we delivered them but we brought them back on time by developing.

“By the time we knew that ISG were going through we already were having conversations with other people. Having worked with the new developers previously I can’t foresee any issues.

“With any of our developers, we always have a close working relationship and that is in some ways why we have achieved as much as we have in terms of our community benefit schemes.

“It is a shame with Cosmeston, but I am confident that we will manage to avoid too much of a delay.”

Vale of Glamorgan Council’s cabinet members approved plans to expand Ysgol y Deri with a new site in April 2021. The £22m new school build will provide space for an additional 150 pupils with additional learning needs.

Area director of Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales, Rob Williams, said: “It’s a real pleasure to be working on Ysgol Llyn Derw, such an important facility for the area.

“We can all see the demand for SEND schools rising, so it means a lot for the whole team to work on this specialised learning facility, supporting families and helping the next generation achieve their full potential.

“In collaboration with Vale of Glamorgan Council and Morgan Sindall, this project is set to create an environment that will inspire pupils and provide the support that they need.”

Ysgol y Deri, which featured in the BBC documentary ‘A Special School’, has been called Britain’s biggest special needs school.

Its headteacher, Chris Britten, said at a Vale of Glamorgan Council planning meeting in April 2023 that the expansion of the school was desperately needed.

At the meeting he said there wasn’t enough dining space at lunchtime and that some pupils were refusing food and drink out of fear of soiling themselves due to a lack of hygiene rooms.

Ysgol Llyn Derw say the plans will integrate with the surrounding landscape, functioning as an extension of the school facilities.

These exterior spaces will offer both teaching and study spaces as well as areas for sport, play, socialising, relaxation, and reflection.

The design of the two-storey building incorporates solar panels and a hybrid generator to power the site. It will also feature green roofs and a number of other features aimed at enhancing biodiversity.