FUNDS have been released for an £1.8 million expansion of a village school to go ahead.

The proposals will allow Colden Common Primary School to increase its pupil intake to 420, after more demand was created by new housing. There are currently 356 children at the school.

However, locals planners will still need to agree the plans, when they are submitted in November.

In the report given to Hampshire County Council, the school says it expected to reach full capacity by next September, with 90 pupils having to be based in the temporary classrooms.

But this new cash will enable it to build three new classrooms.

It would see a single-storey extension added to the Upper Moors Road school, as well as addition toilets and a plant room.

There would also be work to improve the existing kitchen to meet increasing demand.

In addition, an external teaching space would be created outside the extension with more bike and scooter parking. Staff would also get an additional five parking spaces.

Under the plans, the extension has been designed with a pitched aluminium roof to complement the existing building.

The work will begin in autumn 2019 and be completed by September 2020.

Cllr Stephen Reid, education and skills chief, said: “I am very pleased to agree that this project should go ahead in order that we continue to provide sufficient school places for every Hampshire child.

“Investing in quality school buildings, that are built to be sustainable, energy efficient and create a motivational environment for learning, is something that we are proud of.

“Having a significant in-house team of designers, who specialise in school buildings, with years of experience, means that we are able to provide high standard facilities. Not only that, but our significant experience allows us to do this extremely cost effectively, thereby ensuring that taxpayers receive the best value for money.”

It is part of the county council’s programme to provide 17,500 new places by 2021, with planned investment of £140 million.