PLANS to expand Norton Primary School have been given the go-ahead.

Members of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive have approved plans for new buildings on nearby Langton Road. It is expected that The project is expected to will be completed in readiness for the school year beginning September 2017.

The executive also pledged that the county council will work with Ryedale District Council and others on the provision of further primary school places if expected housing developments in the town come to fruition.

“The expansion will enable us to provide first class primary school places for the growing numbers of children we anticipate will require them from 2017,” said County Councillor Arthur Barker, executive member for schools.

“We are aware of the likelihood of even greater demand, should the proposed new residential developments materialise. We will work closely with our colleagues at district level, and with potential developers, to accommodate those needs as they arise – probably by the provision of a further primary school site.”

The Langton Road site is owned by the county council and is currently used as a venue for the delivery of youth and community services, which are being reorganised. A private nursery which previously used the building relocated to new premises last year.

A planning application for the Langton Road development will be submitted over the summer and, if it is approved, work is expected to start on constructing the additional accommodation in summer 2016.