A decision on whether to grant a school planning permission to extend its sports hall was delayed yesterday.

The application to extend the sports hall to include a detached studio and gym at Woodbridge High School, in St Barnabas Road, Woodford Green, was deferred yesterday at a plannning meeting at Sir James Hawkey Hall in Broomhill Road, Woodford Green.

Lib Dem Cllr Gwyneth Deakins was unhappy with the plans in their current form, for the 14.5m by 26.8m building, as it would mean cutting down five trees, including a Beech, a Hornbean and a Sycamore.

She said: “I don’t agree that we have to remove trees for this expansion to be completed, we should be doing all we can not to cut trees down, so we need the plans to be looked at again.”

Planning officer Allan Jones pointed out that 30 new trees were set to be planted at the site as  part of the plans.

While no councillor rejected the development, it was voted to defer the application, meaning planning officers will look again at the plans.

The school is currently undergoing a £11million expansion to accommodate 400 extra pupils, with planning application for a new three-storey building and play area passed in April.

The new block will be used for art, drama, history, music and ICT departments, including a new auditorium.

The school population will rise to 1,998 once the site is completed, with an additional 21 staff.