PLANS to expand a Christchurch primary school have been submitted to planners.

The proposals for the expansion of Burton Primary School in Campbell Road have been lodged with the planning department at Christchurch Borough Council.

The scheme reveals intentions to construct a new building for the Teddy Bears nursery, currently housed in the main school block.

That would free up space in the main school, which is needed to deal with increasing pupil numbers.

And as part of the scheme, the outside play areas will be developed to include more hard and soft play areas close to classrooms.

Proposals include plans to increase the car parking capacity for staff, with the main access points for parents and pupils being changed to Salisbury Road rather than Campbell Road to improve pedestrian safety.

A new play area would be built solely for the nursery as well.

Concerns the existing school playing field would be lost, have been allayed as well, with plans to retain the valuable space.

And areas of the current school building would be refurbished with new classrooms having direct access to external play areas.

It is hoped the plans would be finished by the time the school opens for a new school year in September 2015.

The new pre-school is scheduled to be built, if approved, by the start of the school year with the internal remodel of the former nursery, staff room and hall to take place during the school holidays.

Cllr Judy Jamieson, chairman of Burton Parish Council, said parish councillors had been consulted by the planning authority.

“While they didn’t have any objections, they had concerns about the increased traffic that would be caused by this,” she said.

“Our main concerns were for the safety of children and everybody else. That road is very busy.

“We couldn’t see what provisions they were going to make for this extra traffic because it’s potentially another class, which would be another 30 cars.”