New Pukekohe West school will include unit for blind and low-vision students

Pukekohe's Belmont housing estate will eventually have 700 homes. Photo / Supplied

A new Pukekohe West primary school will include a unit for blind and low-vision students.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins says the school, which will initially be called Pukekohe West School, will be built on a 4ha site in Belmont, and have an initial build roll of 350 students.

It was originally announced by former Education Minister Nikki Kaye last year with an expected cost of $22 million funded in last year's Budget.

Hipkins said an establishment board of trustees was being appointed to contribute to the school's design, vision and initial staffing.

"Pukekohe West School will also include provision for special education facilities including a Sensory Resource Centre for Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand (BLENNZ)," he said.

"Data projections show that the population in Pukekohe is expected to double from 21,000 people now, to more than 40,000 people by 2040. We're building a new school to make sure that the local schooling network is set up to cope with the projected population growth in the area."

Pukekohe West School is expected to open in 2021. It will be a contributing Year 1-6 school, and will have room to expand in the future if needed.