Plans to expand Etonbury Academy in Arlesey to cater for almost double the number of students have been submitted.

Bedfordshire East Schools Trust has made the application on behalf of the Stotfold Road school, which is set to expand numbers in Year 5-11 from 480 to 900 under Central Bedfordshire Council’s school places programme.

A consultation on the proposals, which include a three-storey teaching block extension, a new fitness centre and an all-weather pitch, was opened earlier this month and runs until September 15.

A supporting document to the application states that the intention to cater for more middle school students at Etonbury is “to ensure there are sufficient local pupil places in Stotfold and Arlesey for the growing population”.

Under the plans, a car park with 95 places would be built to remedy “the car parking space shortage” which has left “staff resorting to double parking” and “blocking the entrance to the kitchen for service vehicles”. The amount of bike spaces would be doubled from 200 to 400.

There would also be a new staff room, dining room, four-court sports hall and refurbishments to the entrance, reception and administration area.

To view the plans search for Arlesey on www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/planning/planning-applications.

Plans to expand Roecroft Lower School from its current capacity of 300 places to 450 places in September 2015 were heard by CBC’s executive committee at Priory House in Chicksands on Tuesday, August 19.

This includes plans to relocate 60-place Pippin Pre-School, which was given an Outstanding rating by Ofsted inspectors, within the school’s grounds. The move would be funded by the Basic Need Grant of the Department for Education.

Councillor Maurice Jones said: “There is a need to invest in education for our children and I am very happy to support this proposal.”