A SCHOOL in an area of outstanding natural beauty can demolish ‘sub-standard’ buildings as part of a major renovation project.

Lancashire County Council planners said the proposed revamp, at Bowland High School, in Grindleton, was ‘necessary as existing buildings were unsuit-able for the delivery of a modern curr-iculum’.

The school wants to create a two, or three-storey learning space, as well as an external walkway, a glazed roof canopy from the music block, a new caretaker building, improved playground facilities, and increase the 13 parking spaces to 58.

Councillors on the development cont-rol committee unanimously agreed to follow officers advice to accept the plans. Two residents had objected to the loss of a tree, and raised concerns over residential parking availability.

A report on the Sawley Road school had previously been prepared to ens-ure there was no threat to bat roosts.

In the meeting, officers allayed fears that the renovation was being done with a view to increasing pupil numbers.

Conditions have been set that work can only be carried out between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on a Saturday to minimise disruption to nearby Foxley Bank residents.

Commenting after the council vote, deputy chairman of the committee Coun Munsif Dad said he was happy with the plans.

He said: “It appears evident that the works will make a visual and necess-ary improvement.”

In a newsletter to parents, headteacher John Tarbox said it was hoped work could start by the end of the year.

He said: “We would aim to get moving on the project immediately.

“We now anticipate a completion date of March 2015.”