CONSTRUCTION of a new primary school in Stawley, near Wellington, has been given planning approval.

Somerset Council wants to demolish the existing school in phases and build a new two-classroom campus on the 1.1-acre site at Appley Cross.

The demolition work will be subject to a separate planning application yet to be submitted to the council.

Planning officer Denise Todd said the school’s existing cluster of buildings had exceeded their lifespan and were in need of maintenance and had a ‘very low thermal performance’.

Ms Todd said an existing hall built in 2016 would be kept and incorporated into the new layout and there would be an option to later add a third classroom on the north side if it was needed.

She said parish councillors and a resident had expressed concerns about traffic flows and parking because the school was accessed via a single track lane.

But she said the development would not lead to any intensification in traffic nor would it add to parking demand and therefore was not a reason to refuse the application.

Construction traffic would be a short-term inconvenience and could be controlled by a planning condition requested by highways officers.

Ms Todd said the scheme would result in a building with a uniform appearance which would be a benefit to the character and appearance of the area.

The council said the development would secure the long-term future of the 60-pupil school, which is one of the top performers across Somerset under headteacher Jacqui Collier.