HUNDREDS of York youngsters are to get a new educational home after plans for a revamped city school were given the green light.

The existing English Martyrs’ RC School building in Holgate is to be demolished to make way for a modern replacement after permission was granted for the scheme.

It will house 446 pupils, including 26 nursery places in each of two groups, as the school merges with Our Lady’s RC Primary School in a £5.6 million move.

The new structure will feature an underground flood chamber to reduce the risk of flooding.

The authority’s west and city centre area planning sub-committee unanimously approved the plans this week, and Derek Sutherland, head teacher of English Martyrs’, said the revamped school would be a boost to the community.

Once completed, it will include a sensory garden and a landscaped area for outdoor lessons, with playing fields on the Hamilton Drive site being retained. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough focused on rebuilding the existing school after alternative locations were deemed unsuitable.

“We are at the heart of the community, but because we have an ageing building we currently cannot offer as much community use as we would like,” said Mr Sutherland.

“Through this scheme, we hope to have better community involvement and better investment in the future of children, as well as raising attainment. It will be a great asset.”

Supporting the application, committee member Coun Ann Reid said it was “an exciting-looking building” which would leave children “enthused”. She said concerns over the potential increase in traffic could be dealt with through the drawing-up of a school travel plan.

Pupils will remain at both schools while the work is carried out, and once they move in, the Our Lady’s site in Windsor Garth, Acomb, is to be sold to help finance the project.

The combination of the schools was devised after a lack of early years and reception places for children in Holgate and Acomb was identified.