Councils in England are struggling to finance new school buildings because of rising construction costs and insufficient cross-subsidies from new housing developments. Pupil numbers are declining nationally, creating challenges in many areas. But extensive housebuilding in some parts of the country, particularly in shire counties, means new schools are needed. A Leicestershire County Council report earlier this month said it had injected £19.3 million of discretionary funding since summer last year to support urgent projects for school places. Become a member for unlimited access to Schools Week Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits. subscribe If you have an account, please login. Sign in