Building plans for a new primary school in Colchester have been approved by councillors.

Members of Essex County Council’s development and regulation committee today gave the green light to the school off Apprentice Drive in New Braiswick Park.

Set to open in September next year, the 420 place school and 56 place early years centre has been put forward to tackle a predicted shortfall in school places in the rapidly growing town.

The Learning Pathways Trust has been appointed to run the academy, which would have two forms of entry.

A second new primary school at the Severalls Hospital site is earmarked to open the following year.

Five schools in the nearby area have already been expanded to take a further 57 children, and there is predicted to be a deficit of 215 primary school places by 2017/18 across Colchester.

The Braiswick school proposals were recommended for approval by council planning officers.

However there has been opposition from local residents, backed by both Myland Community Council and the Braiswick Residents’ Association, about the impact the school will have on traffic.

People living in both Apprentice Drive and Fernlea are worried the residential streets will become clogged up with parents doing the school run.

To help mitigate against the impact a one-way system will be in force, meaning traffic will have to enter the school from Apprentice Drive and exit via Fernlea. To prevent the school becoming a cut-through access will be via a gate.

There will be 45 drop-off spaces, as well as 28 staff parking spaces.

Concerns were also raised about noise, and to address the issue the plans have seen the buildings moved away from homes.

It is also proposed to restrict use of the site from 7am to 6pm to prevent disturbance in the evening.