A MASSIVE £250 million project to overhaul and replace schools across Dover district could be shelved.

The investment planned for 16 schools across the district and Shepway is part of the Building Schools for the Future project launched by the previous Labour Government.

But now projects in the scheme, including Wave 5 which takes in district schools, are under review by the new Tory administration.

This could mean proposals to merge Dover's grammar schools in a new building alongside the present Archer's Court school in Buckland, and plans to combine Walmer and Castle Colleges in Deal are scrapped, possibly costing the council and contractors "significant" sums.

In a report to Kent County Council bosses cabinet member for education, Sarah Hohler, said closure of Wave 5 could have severe financial implications. She said: "There are no contractual implications associated with the delay of Wave 5 but there are significant abortive costs to us from the development costs we have already incurred.

"We also know the major contractors expecting to tender for this have expended significant sums. In the event of the closure of this wave we might want to consider asking Government to compensate them for their loss."

KCC will complete the outline planning application for the grammar school new build and procurement documents but all other work is now on hold until the outcome of the review.

The scheme also included plans to refurbish Astor College for the Arts, provide new facilities at Sir Roger Manwood's school, rebuild at St Edmund's Catholic School, work at Sandwich Technology School and improved IT facilities at Harbour special school in Dover.

Building under Wave 5 was expected to start in September 2011 and finish in 2015.

Separate funding, including cash from Canterbury Christ Church University and the Ministry of Defence, is expected to fund Archer's Court Maths and Computing College and the Duke of York's Royal Military School becoming academies this September.

But Kent County Council leader Paul Carter says he is hopeful that remaining projects will get the go-ahead. He said: "It is right for the new coalition government to reflect on spending. David Cameron has already signalled his support for the programme at his first Prime Minister's Questions. He said: 'In terms of building schools for the future, let me be clear: our plans and our passion, when it comes to education, are to ensure new schools are provided so that we have real excellence. Building Schools for the Future is exactly what our plans involve'.

"We want to move the programme forward and not get into the mood that the end is nigh."

A Government statement made after the announcement of £2 billion of cuts seeing 12 national projects binned says of the BSF programme: "The Government inherited a large number of school building projects approved as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

"The Secretary of State for Education is looking at the whole BSF programme, including those projects entered into before January 1.

"Tough decisions need to be made on reducing costs. The Secretary of State will set out next steps shortly."