PLANS are in the pipeline to demolish an 18-year-old mobile classroom used as a Crewe primary school nursery and replace it with a bigger permanent building.

A planning application has been submitted to Cheshire East Council to demolish the prefabricated building at Beechwood Primary School, build a new one and create a new play area.

The Meredith Street school has secured funding from the Department for Education (DfE) for the project which would include a reception, four classrooms, learning support areas, a staff room, kitchen, toilets and storage.

A document supporting the application states: "The existing building is not appropriate to provide the increase in provision of three and four year old places and the additional requirements of wrap-around and third party provided holiday care.

"Due to the insubstantial nature of the mobile structure and the condition of it, with its limited lifespan, it was not deemed appropriate to extend the existing building in order to provide the necessary accommodation for the increase in intake numbers and longer hours of care.

"A new building was considered the best way to secure the longevity of the early years and wraparound care facility at Beechwood Primary School."

The nursery currently has 26 pupils and six full-time equivalent staff. The new building would enable 39 pupils to attend, although no additional staff would be employed.

To comply with the DfE funding requirements, the intended start date for the proposed project would be September 14 this year.

"The nursery will decant from its current premises for the construction phase of the project.

"The school believes that this will be a viable solution alongside restricting the nursery intake, and will not impact on their mainstream provision, as long as the project can be completed within a single academic year 2020-21," adds the document.

A small parcel of land off Newdigate Street and Vere Street, transferred from Cheshire East Council, would provide a new play area.

The document explains: "Whilst the new building proposal does not wholly rely on the inclusion of this piece of land, it will enable the outdoor play amenity to be greatly enhanced and add significant value to the overall scheme."

A public consultation on the proposed nursery plans runs until August 5.