Plans for school expansion given green light

Plans have been approved for a two-storey block at Ibstock School

Plans to expand a secondary school in Ibstock to help it cope with an influx of new pupils have been given the go-ahead.

North West Leicestershire District Council has approved a planning application from LiFE Multi Academy Trust to build a two-storey block at Ibstock School, in Central Avenue, which will include nine classrooms and a drama studio.

According to planning documents, the school needs to increase its annual intake from 145 to 175 students "urgently" due to the construction of new homes in its catchment area.

A nursery, which is currently housed in a mobile classroom on land earmarked for the proposed development, will be relocated to another building in the school's grounds.

The development is set to receive funding from section 106 agreements, in which developers help foot the bill for services and facilities to mitigate the impact of new homes in an area.

Planning documents state the proposed teaching block would increase the school's capacity from 725 to 900 pupils.