PLANNERS have allowed a special school to change its proposals for more classrooms, despite various green belt restrictions.

The Sheiling Trust in Horton Road, Ashley Heath, had proposals agreed in principle in 2008 and again in 2012 for a two-storey building to replace a former army hut.

Now it wants to build single-storey self-contained classrooms on the site over a period of a few years, which should be more practical for the older students now catered for at The Sheiling College.

Members of East Dorset District Council's planning committee agreed unanimously to the new scheme.

The school says single storey classes would allow easy entry and exit for those with behavioural issues if they felt trapped, and those with physical disabilities.

The school will still need to apply for full permission for any work it undertakes, but planners agreed the development in principle.