PROPOSALS for a new, £7 million, two-storey 420-pupil primary school on the edge of Taunton have raised objections from council planners.

Nerrols Primary School would have two 30-child forms in each of its seven year groups, along with a 26-place ground floor nursery.

Also on the ground floor would be pupils up to Year 2, a library, group working rooms, the main hall, kitchen, stores and office and meeting space.

A further eight classrooms for older pupils on the first floor, along with a small hall, a staff room, food science facility, group working room and stores, would be accessible by a lift on the first floor.

The 14-classroom development, which would be on a 2.7-acre site between Nerrols Drive and Bossington Drive off the Venture Way roundabout, would include a 3G sports pitch, hard and soft play areas and parking for staff and visitors.

Somerset County Gazette:

Site of the planned new school.

The facility will be funded with Section 106 'planning gain' contributions from developers building 630 homes, live-work units and shops on land off Nerrols Drive.

Somerset County Council will vote on its own planning application but has sent the documents to Taunton Deane Borough Council for its comments.

The Deane has objected to the proposals on the grounds that it will probably result in increased use of a single track unnamed lane running along the eastern boundary "contrary to highways safety" and increased use of private cars It also expresses concern that there has been on noise impact assessment on neighbouring homes, which it claims "was a significant problem" at the new West Monkton Primary School.

A County Hall spokesman said: "We welcome the comments from Taunton Deane Borough Council and are reviewing these carefully.

"We’re extremely confident we can quickly overcome any concerns and we look forward to working with our partners at the district council delivering this fantastic new school which will serve the local community for generations to come."

Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes have new homes for sale in the area around the planned school, which councillors hope will be completed in time to have its first pupils in September 2019.