DUDLEY Council’s planning officers have praised “innovative” designs for an extension to a Netherton secondary school.

Hillcrest School and Community College submitted plans to the council to build a new dining hall and teaching block with a covered bridge link to the existing school building.

Members of the Development Control Committee unanimously approved the plans which include a 12 classroom teaching block.

The new block will be built with a contemporary design, with a curved floor plan and will also include offices and staff rooms alongside the classrooms.

The plans will also see a two-storey dining room built on part of the existing car park. This too will be built in a contemporary style in a square shape but with an elongated point at one end which “has a similar plan view to a small rowing boat.”

Both buildings will also contain a free standing sun screen, which will be built following the curve of the teaching block. The council officers considered the sun trap to be a “novel and a sustainable design solution to reduce excessive solar gain.”

Praising the plans, chairman of the Committee, Councillor Tim Wright said:” What an innovative design. It is an absolutely wonderful design for a school and a lovely concept for modern education.”

School Head teacher April Garratt said: “Hillcrest School and Community College are delighted with the approval of the plans.

“Dudley Local Authority has supported Hillcrest in its bid for funding of this scheme through the DCSF Popular and Expanding Schools Programme and now the plans are approved the school awaits a positive decision from MPs in London.

She added: “The school is oversubscribed with many children still trying to obtain a place so the new build would guarantee extra places for the local community.”