PLANS to extend an overpopulated Halstead secondary school have been given the green light.

Braintree Council has granted planning permission to Ramsey Academy to extend its premises after facilities were deemed “not suitable for the current student numbers”.

The Ramsey Academy is  part of Bridge Academy Trust which runs 11 academies across Essex.

However, the school is currently over-subscribed, with 793 students on the roll, despite a capacity of just 750.

Now, plans have been granted to extend the school’s existing dining hall.

A planning statement read: “As part of the continued improvements at Ramsey Academy, it has been identified that the existing dining facilities are not suitable for the current student numbers, and with the continued growth within the local area, Ramsey Academy need to protect themselves against future demands.

“The existing dining hall is not suitable for the current student numbers and requires extending.

“The academy is currently using space not designated as a dining facility to enable the academy to cope."

The plans will see a single-storey extension to the south of the main academy building to accommodate larger dining space for students and staff.

Proposals also include an approximate six-and-a-half metre extension to the south of the existing dining hall and kitchen area.

As part of the works, the existing extract system for the kitchen will need to be relocated and will utilise an existing redundant extraction point through the roof in the kitchen.

The new extension would allow for approximately 700-1,000 students in two to four sittings, with the academy looking to utilise the potential of having two to three sittings to accommodate the current and future students.

The planning statement added: “The development is essential to extend the existing dining hall area to accommodate the current and future population of the academy.

“The works will have a minimal impact on the local area during the construction phase and will not impact on local traffic post the completion of the works.”

Halstead Town Council had previously backed the plans, with councillor Jackie Pell saying: “There is no question, they have got to have it.”