A MIDDLE school will be able to create a new flexible learning space in its grounds after its planning application was accepted.

Highfield Middle School in Prudhoe wanted to change its existing caretaker’s bungalow into a new learning space for the school.

The planning application also covered converting an existing car port into a garage for storage, and creating five new parking bays near the existing bungalow.

Because the area lies within the grounds of a school, the application was required to be referred to Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee.

At a meeting of the committee’s members last Tuesday, the application was unanimously approved by councillors.

The new learning space will feature a meeting room, dining room and storage, while its existing bathroom and kitchen will be retained.

In its application, the school said the change of use of the bungalow would be a cost-effective way to improve the school facilities, by creating the additional learning space for pupils and staff.

It said it would improve the quality of the teaching at the school, particularly for those students with special educational needs.

However, the work would not lead to an increase in pupil numbers at the school, being used by existing pupils and staff.

Initially, the council’s Highways Development Management team had raised concerns due to a lack of sufficient information to fully assess the potential impact on highway safety, but after receiving further details they submitted no objection to the proposals, and no other objections were received.