A school in St John’s has been granted permission for a new building and entrance – despite concerns children will be breathing toxic air, with the site exceeding EU air pollution limits.

Councillors at a planning committee approved the application, which will see a new three-storey building for Ashmead Primary School fronting onto Lewisham Way, entrance, and changes to outdoor space.

The building will bring an increase of 15 teachers for the school, and a roll increase of 180 pupils.

Air pollution was the main issue with the application, with children using the busy Lewisham Way entrance.

The location of the site has had recently-recorded air pollution levels, including nitrogen dioxide, which exceed EU-set limits, according to Lewisham Council documents. 

But the increased impact of air pollution from the expansion was “slight,” a council officer said.

A spokesperson for the Brockley Society said the school had a “duty of care” to keep children away from air pollution, particularly in light of the death of local girl Ella Kissi-Debra, who died aged nine in 2013.

New evidence has linked her death to illegal levels of pollution near her home.

“Our main concerns are for air toxicity, highlighted by the death of local girl Ella Kissi-Debra,” the spokesperson said.

“A slight danger is not acceptable.

“We are worried about the proximity to a very busy road.”

But Ashmead Primary School headteacher Sean O’Flynn said the new building would improve the quality of education at the school.

“We are going to get two multi-use building which will make our curriculum much richer,” he said.

“We are looking forward to a lovely sandpit and added climbing spaces in the school.

“There is a substantial benefit for pupils as they will access new rooms and have a much larger fit-for-purpose playground.”

Cllr Tom Copley moved a motion to accept the application, citing the condition of increased planters to mitigate air pollution, and the in-coming ultra-low emission zone as effective measures to limit the effects of air pollution.

He said: “It is fair to say the introduction of ultra-low emission zone coming up, as well as the fact that buses are being upgraded to be greener and greener, I would have thought that would continue the downward trend in terms of pollution.”