Work has begun on building a four classroom extension to Woodston Primary School to create new places for children from the Hempsted development.

The extension is being part funded by the developer, with the remainder being paid for by Peterborough City Council's children's services capital programme. It has been designed by Peterborough City Council's property design and maintenance team and Burmor Construction Ltd is carrying out the building work.

The extension will allow for an increase in admissions to the school from 20 to 30 children per year group.

The concrete for the new building's foundations is now in place and the next steps are to erect the steel frame and the walls and roof of the extension. The building will then be internally fitted out.

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Alongside the new classrooms, the work includes an extension to the school hall to accommodate the additional children. This will be built to imitate the current octagonal shape of the hall. Internal alterations will be made to enlarge the nursery area, create additional office space and remodel two classrooms.

Robert Griggs, the city council's Head of Property Design and Maintenance, said: "The extension will include many of the low carbon features which we have successfully implemented at other primary schools including Orton Wistow and Newborough.

"Water for flushing the toilets in the new extension will be provided by a rainwater harvesting system and the building will make use of sun pipes and solar panels. It has been designed to maximise natural light and ventilation to reduce energy consumption and CO2 production.

"The new building will have a sedum blanket green roof, which is being constructed behind a sloping tiled roof façade to complement the appearance of the existing school buildings. It has been designed to include a high standard of insulation which will help to reduce the school's carbon emissions in line with the council's Carbon Reduction Commitment objectives."

The work is due to be completed ready for the start of the 2010/11 school year.

(CD/BMcC)