TWO Popley schools could expand if planning permission is approved by Hampshire County Council.

The council has submitted a planning application on behalf of Marnel Community Infant and Junior Schools, in Shetland Road, Popley, to extend the schools to cater for more pupils.

If the scheme is given the green light, two classroom extensions will be built at the junior school and one classroom and the community room, entrance and staff area will all be extended at the infant school.

In addition, refurbishment works will also provide a new classroom and a library area at the infant school.

Facilities for small group activities and pupils with special needs are to be improved with the addition of new specialeducational needs rooms at both schools.

The additional facilities will mean that the schools will become four-form entry and will increase from 299 to 360 pupils at the infant school and from 360 pupils to 480 at the junior school.

The number of car parking spaces will rise from 35 to 49.

The application says: “In line with national trends, there is an increasing demand for primary school places in Basingstoke.

This, coupled with the specific requirement to provide places as a result of the new Kiln Farm housing development (450 dwellings), which is within the catchment area, has given rise to the need to expand both the infant and the junior school by one form of entry to meet this anticipated demand.”

It added: “The proposed expansion will allow Marnel Infant and Marnel Junior schools to offer 120 places in Year R (age 4+) and 120 places in Year 3 (age 7+) respectively. This will provide a total capacity in the infant school of 360 places and in the junior school of 480 places.”

A decision on the application is expected to be made by June 1.