PLANS for a new building and sports facilities at an oversubscribed Northwich school look set to be rubber-stamped next week, but concerns over transport have been raised by the town council.

Cheshire West and Chester’s planning committee is recommended to approve a planning application for new facilities at The County High School in Leftwich when it meets on Tuesday.

The school on Granville Road has an outstanding Ofsted rating and is currently oversubscribed, but the expansion would enable it to permanently increase pupil intake from 195 a year to 210.

The proposals include an additional single-storey new school building with four classrooms, relocated main school reception, offices, staff facilities, toilets and meeting room.

There would also be new vehicle access, changes to the parking area - including creating four electric vehicle charging spaces - and 60 cycle spaces for staff and pupils, along with an outside dining area with picnic tables.

A new multi-use games area (MUGA) would be built to replace the disused cricket nets and practice area. The MUGA is designed to meet with Sport England and England Netball specifications.

If approved, it would see total pupil numbers rise from 1,010 with 125 staff, to 1,050 pupils and the full time equivalent of 130 staff.

A report to the planning committee said Northwich Town Council supports the proposal to expand the school and the inclusion of cycle and electric charging spaces. However it said there is 'concern' that sustainable transport has not been fully explored.

The report said: "Proposals for improving cycling and walking routes and in particular the crossing of Kingsmead and Dunham Road (and) consideration to establishing an AM one way system using Fairfield Road and Ellesmere Road is suggested to avoid the congestion with cars and buses."

The school opened in 1957 as the Northwich County Grammar School for Girls. It was later known as Leftwich High School until the early 1990s before becoming the County High School Leftwich.

It became a comprehensive in September 1978, with sixth form pupils from the school and the former Sir John Deane’s Grammar School going to the new Sir John Deane’s College.

The school converted to academy status in September 2012 and is now part of the Sir John Brunner Foundation academy trust.

The report added: “The council has a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient pupil places in the local area. The need to expand the school has arisen from analysis of the present and future need for secondary school places in the Northwich area."