OAKLANDS School is set for a huge expansion, including eight new classrooms, a multi-use hall, expanded car park, and an artificial grass sports pitch.

The school, which caters for children with special educational needs, has had a planning application granted by Cheshire West and Chester Council, which will see an expansion of the school of more than 1,000 square metres.

The development will consist of a new eight-classroom block with a 220 sq m double height hall which is suitable for assemblies, performances and sports, a new 720 sq m MUGA Pitch to provide enhanced sports teaching and playground activities, and an expansion of the car park from 970 sq m to 1,620 sq m.

Kevin Boyle, head teacher, said: “We are delighted that as part of the expansion programme we will finally have a school building that will be fit for purpose.”

The plans were objected to by Sport England due to the expansion taking up more than half of the school playing field.

However, the school argued that the new hall and MUGA pitch will ‘enhance the PE curriculum at the school’.

The multi-use hall is also planned to be used as a community hall and is hoped to ‘enhance the amount of sport and recreational provision within Winsford’.That is the view of planning officer Steven Holmes.

In his report, recommending approval of the plans, Mr Holmes spoke positively about the plans.

He said: “The new block forms a positive contribution to Oaklands school, both functionally and visually. It provides additional teaching space and a long-term replacement to the mobile classrooms, which are currently in use.

“The new parking layout will provide the much-needed vehicle space which is currently insufficient on site. The new MUGA pitch and multi-purpose hall will enhance games lessons and playground use.

“The size of the new hall will allow for larger stage productions and assembly’s ensuring the school retains its cohesion as its numbers increase.”