CONSTRUCTION has stopped on a new school in York after the government contractors working on the site filed for administration.

Construction group ISG has filed for administration in the UK, resulting in around 2,400 job losses, joint administrators at EY have said.

ISG was the contractor working on a new building for Hempland Primary School in Heworth, as reported by The Press back in May.

Plans to construct a new two-storey building for the school in Whitby Avenue were approved by City of York Council’s planning committee last November with works to prepare the site for construction taking place since earlier this year.

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The two-storey building was set to replace the current school building and is to be built on the same site.

The investment came after Hempland successfully secured a place on the government’s school rebuilding programme - which carries out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects in schools and colleges across England.

But contractors working for ISG were reported to be downing tools on several sites amid worries they would not get paid with witnesses telling The Press they saw workers at Hempland leaving the site this morning.

A spokesperson for Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust, which runs Hempland Primary School, said: "We are aware of the announcement that ISG has filed notices to enter into administration and we share the disappointment of all those involved to hear this news.

“Our thoughts go out to the staff who were employed on our project. The team had very much become a part of our school community during their time on site.

“We are in close contact with the Department for Education, who are managing the project, and are working with them to seek a solution."

A government spokesperson said: “We have implemented our detailed contingency plans and affected departments are working to ensure sites are safe and secure.”

ISG were not available for comment when contacted by The Press.