A NELSON primary school is to expand to ease pressure on overcrowded classrooms.

Lomeshaye Junior School, in Norfolk Street, wants to build a new assembly hall and entrance foyer linking the building with Whitefield Infant School.

The proposals include demolition of part of Whitefield’s entrance to create a walled garden for outdoor teaching.

The new-build Whitefield school, which will have four stacked temporary classrooms and an elevated staffroom which back onto Norfolk Street removed, is expected to be completed by August this year.

This new application intends to improve the fire escape route across the buildings, and will see the new entrance to the Whitefield building at the opposite end from where it currently is.

A planning statement from Lousie Young, from Lancashire County Council’s directorate of children and young people, said: “The increase in numbers at both schools is causing intensive and increasing pressure on already overcrowded buildings.

“With the Whitefield school roll having increased from two-form entry to three-form entry, effectively this means Lomeshaye also has had to find an additional classroom each year.”

If planning permission is approved, education bosses hope to embark on a 13-month construction programme, with a view to complete the work by August 2015.

Ms Young added that the redevelopment could create the equivalent of eight full-time jobs.