A KNUTSFORD primary school will this week ask for permission to build a new two-storey classroom block to accommodate more than 100 new pupils.

Manor Park Primary School's application to build five new classrooms and a library will be heard at Cheshire East Council's Southern Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 25.

In December 2013 Cheshire East Council carried out a statutory consultation exercise for the proposed expansion of of the school on Manor Park North, which has a current capacity of 210 pupil places.

It came to the conclusion that an increase to 315 places would 'deliver sufficient capacity for the school' to become a one and half form of entry (45 places per year group) primary school with a proposed completion date of September 2015.

Currently, there are seven classrooms plus the nursery but the school is also keen to relocated the 'undersized' staff room – renovating an existing year 2 classroom and installing a kitchen and 'staff workspace'.

The planning statement adds: "A two storey new build extension, providing five new class rooms with integral cloaks and storage, plus library, group rooms and stair.

"Internal remodelling to the existing school to provide a staff room, age two accommodation, stair lift, group space and circulation link into the extension."

Knutsford Town Council has raised concerns to the borough council that reports from CEC Highways, Sport England and an arboriculturalist had not been provided and that additional parking provision at the school had not been made.

However, in a statement on the planning portal Sport England said: "The proposed development affects only land incapable of forming, or forming part of, a playing pitch, and does not result in the loss of or inability to make use of any playing pitch (including the maintenance and adequate safety margins), a reduction in the size of the playing area of any playing pitch or the loss of any other sporting/ancillary facilities on site.

"The school extension only affects hardstanding and the steep grass slope to the playing fields. A topographical plan shows the extent of the slope which although technically forms part of the playing field does not constitute functional playing field."

The school would also like to increase the numbers in the nursery to 39 places – it currently has provision for 26.