Plans to extend Tollgate Primary School in Bury St Edmunds are approved by West Suffolk Council

A Bury St Edmunds school will be extended to be able to cater for more pupils following planning approval.

The facilities at Tollgate Primary School, which is run by Unity Schools Partnership, will be enhanced in order to accommodate two additional year groups, plus there will also be an extension to the nursery facilities.

From September 2022, the school began to take Year 5 pupils and Year 6s will be able to join the setting from September this year, as a result of the closures of Westley and Horringer Court middle schools at the end of this summer term.

The plans for the Tollgate Lane school include:

• a new building to house Year 6 to the rear of the rear of the school buildings to the east of the site;

• A MUGA (multi-use games area), basketball court and Key Stage 2 play area to the rear of the site;

• a resited parking area for staff and visitors, providing 47 parking places and three disabled spaces;

• nursery extension with a bespoke, covered play area to the rear of the building and fenced play area to serve the nursery to the side.

A design and access statement with the planning application said the scheme would provide an opportunity to enhance an existing sub-standard facility in a sustainable manner to benefit school children, staff and the wider community.

"We believe the scheme demonstrates consideration to the sensitivities of the site whilst also giving consideration to the strategic developments in Bury St Edmunds," it said.

West Suffolk Council granted planning permission on January 12, with a number of conditions attached. These include use of the MUGA and basketball court being restricted to the school only and Monday to Friday (not including Bank Holidays), as well as conditions to safeguard archaeological assets.

Suffolk Archaeology has said the site lies in an area of 'archaeological potential', with evidence of a Saxon cemetery adjacent to the east of the site, as well as adjacent to the west and the north.

A programme of archaeological work is to be undertaken before any development can take place.