Hundreds of English primary schools will be rebuilt after the government approved building plans worth £3.6bn, in the first wave of its Primary Capital programme.

Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, confirmed that more than 1,500 rebuilding and refurbishment projects would begin across 133 local authorities. A further 15 councils will receive advice on how to bring their plans up to speed in three months so funding can be released.

Balls said the investment would help to “support jobs in the construction industry and local businesses, crucial to fitting out the schools”.

The Primary Capital programme will invest £7bn to rebuild or refurbish half of all primary schools and primary-age special schools by 2022/23.

Ian Fordham, deputy chief executive of the British Council for School Environments, said the news was a “cause for celebration”. But he added: “The key is to ensure this money is spent with common sense.”

Meanwhile Balfour Beatty has been chosen for a £200m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in Southwark, south-east London.

The project will be in three phases and cover 13 school projects across the London borough.

It is also understood that a Laing O’Rourke-led consortium, including architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, BDP, Atkins and Watson Batty, has been appointed preferred bidder on the £300m Barnsley BSF scheme, beating HBG.

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