PLANS to extend a school to accommodate Army families moving from Germany have been accepted by Wiltshire Council.

Avon Valley College, in Durrington, has been granted planning permission to extend the current school site to increase the school's capacity 200 places, to 1,250 pupils.

As part of the plans, 23 new classrooms and extra outdoors space will be built to accommodate children of families coming to the Salisbury Plain as part of the Army Basing Programme.

The project will run in two phases, the first of which will include building seven general classrooms, two specifically for information and communications technology (ICT), a suite of art classrooms, another suite of music and drama rooms, staff rooms and toilets.

Phase two will involve building a suite of technology rooms, four more general classrooms, plus a further ICT room.

The proposals also include extra car parking, tennis courts and outside play areas.

As a condition of the planning approval, no development can take place until an archaeological investigation has taken place and that a community use agreement for the site's sports facilities be agreed with Sport England.

Sam Johnston, principal of the college, said: "We're delighted with the planning application approval for a 3-storey, 18-classroom block housing performing arts, art, ICT and new staff and 6th form areas. Construction begins in the spring and will be complete by the end of 2018.

"The expansion is part of a multiphase project to accommodate service families returning from Germany.

"It is predicted that further expansion beyond phases one and two will be necessary as the growing reputation of Avon Valley College draws more pupils from out of catchment.

"The new build will be a tremendous asset to the school and the local area."

The project is being billed as a “complete redevelopment” of the site with a new “timeless” building.

The existing school building has a mixture of 1950s and 1970s buildings, many of which have deteriorated.