PROPOSALS to expand a Portishead primary school have been approved.

North Somerset Council’s north area planning committee has given the green light to the expansion of St Peter’s Primary School which will see it increase from a 420 to a 630-place school by September 2014.

Plans to extend the school were drawn up in a bid to solve the growing crisis caused by a shortage of primary school places in the town. Once complete, the expansion will allow the school to offer three classes, totalling 90 places, for each year group.

The pupil increase will be a gradual process over the next seven years, although the school already has one year group with 90 pupils following the installation of a temporary building in 2011 and it will take 90 reception pupils in September, turning what is currently used as the school’s community room into a classroom.

Work on the expansion will start immediately, with a site compound being set up on the school field.

In a letter to parents, headteacher Sharon Roberts said: “We are expecting a considerable amount of work to be completed over the summer and the site will look very different by the time we come back in September.”

Mrs Roberts also confirmed the contractors will be committed to respecting the school’s neighbours under a considerate constructors’ scheme.