A PLANNING application has been submitted for two new buildings to increase capacity at a primary school.

Berkeley Primary School has submitted an application to Stroud District Council for a new classroom and a new nursery building. 

The primary school said in council documents: “The new classrooms are proposed in order to meet the growing need for the school.

“As part of the ongoing housing development in the community planning officers have identified a need to expand the available school places, ideally in walking distance to the Cannonbury development and have asked us to increase places.” 

Capacity needs to increase by a total of 46 spaces - 33 more school places and 13 nursery places.

At the moment the school currently has 184 pupil places and 38 nursery places. 

If the plans are approved, the new facilities would also create two new jobs - one full time and one part time. 

Berkeley nursery known as Little Jesters would have a new covered entrance lobby which would provide families with a new sheltered waiting area.

The single-storey primary classroom would feature space for at least a class of 28 students, outside bike storage, an office, a reception area and unisex toilets.

Berkeley Town Council has already supported the application and the scheme would use sustainable materials like timber and would be responsibly sourced to reduce the carbon footprint of production and transport to site.

Originally built in 1910, the Edwardian school in Marybrook Street has a bell with a tower on the gable end of the main building and remains a symbol of the school’s heritage. 

Up until 1964, it served as Berkeley Secondary Modern School before becoming a primary.

In September 2016 the school joined the Cotswold Beacon Academy Trust and received a good rating in its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2019

Anyone wishing to view or comment on the application should email planning@stroud.gov.uk or visit stroud.gov.uk/planning by August 12 quoting S.22/1480/FUL.