PLANS have been submitted for a new building for a Coundon primary school.

The Secretary of State wants permission from Durham County Council to provide a new single-storey block with new entrance and car park at St Joseph’s RC Primary School, on Victoria Lane.

The existing buildings will be demolished and the new school will see pupil numbers will increase by ten to 155.

The project is being funded by the Education Funding Agency, on behalf of the Department for Education through the Government’s Priority Schools Building Programme.

If the plans are granted approval, work will commence shortly and is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

In the planning application, it states: “The existing school was constructed between the 1920s and the 1960s.

“As the number of pupils has grown over the years a later temporary building is used for the reception class and dining, and another temporary building used for additional teaching space.”

It continues: “The fabric of the existing school buildings and the building services are old and costly to maintain in their present condition and require considerable expenditure to bring them up to current standards.”

There will be no impact on sports provision during construction and the proposal includes plans to extend the play area, with a new hard court being created for netball and tennis.

The landscape will also encourage the use of an outdoor classroom.

County councillor for the Coundon area, Charlie Kay, is going to help pay for a new war memorial window in the new building.

He said: “I am really pleased about the plans. It is really good news for the school and Coundon.”