A disused youth centre is set to become new classrooms for a primary school in Bexley, if councillors approve plans at meeting this evening.

Plans for six new classrooms, a small hut and a learning resource area at Mayplace Primary School in Woodside Road will go to Bexley Council tonight.

There are also proposals to extend a reception room with an extended playground area and extend the main entrance to the school.

In a report going to the Council tonight it explains: “The proposal will help address the continuing need to improve and expand the borough’s primary schools to meet increasing demands and pressures in the local area.”

The school is seeking to expand from 2 Form Entry to 3 Form Entry, which would see an increase of 212 pupils resulting in a total of 630 pupils in years Reception to Year 6 and provide additional school places to accommodate growing demand in the area.

The application seeks to demolish a disused Youth Centre and several small detached storage buildings and in its place develop a two storey classroom block.

The application has been recommended for approval at tonight’s meeting subject to conditions.

Neighbours of the school have objected to the application, with two writing to the council to voice concerns.

Neighbours raised issues with the two storey classroom block, claiming it would allow a direct view into residential properties.

Another neighbour said that if they would have known about the proposals they would not have brought a new log cabin for their garden.

Subjects for approval include providing bicycle parking, submitting a car park managing scheme and a travel plan to the local planning authority. 

UPDATE: This item was withdrawn from the committee's agenda in order to obtain further information from the applicant in respect of the circumstances which justifies the impact of this proposal on Metropolitan Open Land.