2 days ago
Primary school to extend to house extra pupils
A primary school has been granted permission to build extensions to accommodate 119 extra pupils.
Five new classrooms will be built at Beaconside C of E Primary in Penrith, Cumbria, despite concerns regarding the number of available staff car parking spaces and the increase in traffic at normal school drop-off and pick-up times.
However Amy Holliman, from Westmorland and Furness Council, told a meeting the additional school places would be phased in over a number of years.
The application, which came from the council and also included plans for a staffroom and landscaping, was passed contrary to the recommendation of Penrith Town Council, which also raised objections.
It was worried about public transport provision as buses did not run at times corresponding with start and end of the school day.
But councillors were told the school was committed to supporting sustainable transport, with fewer children being driven to school, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Holliman said funding would come from cash given as part of a separate planning agreement and described the development as helping to "futureproof Penrith" in terms of more school places.
Addressing environmental concerns which included the possibility of asbestos being found, she confirmed the work would not be carried out when the pupils were at school.
The new classrooms will be for Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils.
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Penrith Town Council
Westmorland and Furness Council
