Newbridge School in Coalville has been given the go-ahead to build a new, two-storey, building as part of an expansion to deal with a forecast increased number of pupils and staff.

North West Leicestershire District Council this week have planning permission for the new development which is expected to deal with the demand caused by new housing developments in the area.

The council reports that, for the 2021 academic year, it is confirmed that the school currently has 666 pupils and 78 staff.

As a result of the proposal, this would increase to 900 pupils and 90 staff.

A council officer's report says: "It is indicated that the proposed new school building is to provide additional teaching spaces due to the increase in local housing developments and pupil intake.

"Paragraph 95 of the NPPF states that it is important that a sufficient choice of school places are available to meet the needs of existing and new communities by giving great weight to the need to create, expand or alter schools through decisions on applications.

"Furthermore, community and cultural services and facilities should be retained and wherever possible improvements facilitated to the quality, accessibility and levels of provision by allowing the expansion or enhancement of existing facilities, particularly in areas where new development will increase the demand for facilities.

"It is also worth noting that the Hugglescote and Donington le Heath Neighbourhood Plan examiner's report supports proposals for the expansion of existing schools where it can be demonstrated that it would not exacerbate existing access related or traffic circulation problems, there is no loss of land already used for recreation by the schools and it would not result in significant loss of amenity to residents or other adjacent users."