A NEW building will be constructed to increase the capacity of a primary school in the town.

Applicant Omega Multi-Academy Trust’s proposals for Chapelford Village Primary School was approved by the development management committee on Thursday.

The plans comprised the retention of a modular building and new macadam surfacing to allow for the continuation of adjacent play areas – along with additional parking and alterations to existing car park layout, additional cycle store and associated external works.

According to a report to the committee, the modular building will provide a lobby/reception area and four classrooms with related storerooms, office/meeting rooms, WCs and a small dining hall/space.

It stated that the additional classrooms are sought to provide for an increase in pupil numbers of up to an additional 120, bringing the ‘future maximum capacity’ of the school to 750 pupils.

“The development site is within the school grounds and consists of a detached single storey modular building located to the south of the main building and which had substantially been completed at the time of a site visit,” it added.

“It was intended to complete the modular building to provide additional classroom space prior to the start of the new school year in September 2023 in order to accommodate an increasing number of pupils, however it is now envisaged that the new facilities will not be in use until the end of November at the earliest. As a temporary measure, staff office space is currently being used as a temporary classroom.”