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

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

However, planners will still need to sign off 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 to accommodate more students.

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

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

In addition, an external teaching space would be created outside the extension with additional bike and scooter parking being put in place for new pupils. Staff would also get an additional five car parking spaces at the site.

Under the plans, the extension has been designed with a pitched aluminium roof to complement the existing school 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 a high standard of facilities. Not only that, but our significant experience allows us to do this extremely cost effectively, thereby ensuring that taxpayers receive the best possible value for money.

"It is hugely important to me that there are places at good quality schools to meet the demand stemming from a rising population of families all over the county. Thanks to our strong track record in planning for the future, we are keeping pace with continued rising demand in Hampshire."

The scheme is part of the county council's programme to provide 17,500 new places at Hampshire schools by 2021, with a planned investment of around £140 million.