ST ALBANS: A primary school is being expanded to meet demand for places in the next school year.

Herts County Council (HCC) has obtained planning permission to place a mobile unit accommodating two new classrooms at Prae Wood in King Harry Lane, St Albans, to ensure there are sufficient reception places in the area come September.

In its application to the district council, HCC said that the temporary expansion of the school was a “cost effective solution to the deficit of school places within St Albans”. It will facilitate an additional one form of entry, or 30 pupils, over a two year period from September this year.

The new unit, which will be placed over the footprint of a storage shed at the site, will face properties in Corinium Gate but is set a significant distance back.

Eight new parking spaces will also be created to avoid the need for staff to park on the horseshoe road outside the school.

HCC has exchanged contracts on the former law school site in Hatfield Road, St Albans, to turn it into a new primary school which is set to open in September 2012 with two-form entry in order to bridge the huge shortfall in city centre places. In addition, Francis Bacon in Drakes Drive, St Albans, is being turned into an all-through school taking children from three through to 18.