A REDEVELOPMENT of a Poole middle school, estimated to cost millions of pounds, has been approved by councillors.

Oakdale South Road Middle School is to have a two-storey extension to accommodate six new classrooms, two temporary modular classrooms, a storage building and internal alterations to the existing school building and minor changes to the car park.

The extended school will provide the space required for the school to grow from 140 pupils per year group to 180 per year group from September 2014. This will help meet the need for additional school places in Poole.

Cllr Phil Eades, chairman of Borough of Poole’s planning committee, said: “The application is in response to the recent rise in Poole’s number of young children requiring school places.

“The application provides those extra places and also a new entrance to the school from Well Lane which should ease the traffic problems at peak times in Palmer Road and Mellstock Road.

“The planning committee considered that the school’s extension was sympathetic to neighbours and in character with the current buildings.”

Work is due to start this autumn.