A SCHOOL has thanked councillors and planning officers for helping them move a step closer to having a new sixth form centre.

But regions minister Stephen Byers could still halt the plans at Westholme School because the new development is on green belt land.

Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee gave planning permission for an extension to Westholme School in Meins Road, Blackburn, at a meeting this week, even though it is on a green belt site.

But because the school was described as a development site within the green belt, extensions can be built if they have no greater impact on the surroundings than existing buildings and is not over-intensive.

The extension would provide new classrooms, a lecture theatre, sixth form common room, interview rooms, staff and tutorial areas.

The school has only recently been extended to provide a new library, theatre and classroom block.

Planning officers praised the design of the new building, saying it blended it with the existing parts of the school and used the same material.

John Willcock, speaking on behalf of the private school, said: "We have carefully designed the building because we are aware the school falls within green belt area.

"We would like to thank the officers and the councillors for taking the time to come and view the site and providing us with the support to submit this application."

The planning and highways committee received no objections to the planned extension, but did receive 12 letters of support.

All from parents of pupils at the school, the letters urged committee members to back the plans.

The letters said previous developments had blended in the with older buildings and that the new project would provide much-needed facilities for students.