A MAJOR school expansion that could create over 200 new places has been announced this week.

The plans, unveiled by Lancashire County Council, would see 210 new places created at Ribblesdale High School on Queens Road in Clitheroe, which until now has functioned as a secondary school, for primary aged children.

This is intended to help meet the demand that officials expect a new housing development on Higher Standen Farm on Pendle Road to create.

Cabinet member for education and skills County Councillor Jayne Rear said: "These exciting plans would see more than 200 new primary school places created to help meet the demand from the housing development.

"They set out what could be done to provide much needed places for new and existing families in the area as well as complementing the fantastic provision already available in the area."

The council ran a consultation on an initial proposal for a new school between December 2020 and January 2021.

An alternative option to increase the age range of Ribblesdale High School, which would see it cater for primary as well as secondary school pupils, was put forward during this period.

The increase in age range is now the county council's preferred option and the cabinet is being asked to approve a further consultation on the new proposal

It is also being recommended to progress with design and procurement exercises for the project and approve the estimated costs identified in the report.

Under the new plans, primary pupils would be taught separately to the secondary school in a new building on Higher Standen Farm.

However, the new building would still be a part of Ribblesdale School making the institution an 'all-through school' for pupils aged between 4 and 16.

Councillor Rear said: "If approved we will ask the public what they think before moving forward."