A controversial £11million school expansion to meet demand for places was given the go-ahead yesterday.

Woodbridge High School, in St Barnabas Road, Woodford Green, will press ahead with major works to build a new gym centre and a second three-storey creative arts block.

Redbridge council’s regulatory committee approved the plans last night at the town hall in Ilford.

The school, which aims to accommodate 420 extra pupils, will build the single-storey gym with cycle storage facilities, and a second three-storey building with a performance hall. 

The gym is due to be used as temporary classroom space for the first year from July to accommodate the extra pupils while the arts block is being developed. 

Once the site is completed this summer, the school population in September will rise to 1,970, with an additional 21 staff.  

A number of people living in the surrounding streets lodged complaints about the proposal.

Resident of St Barnabas Road for 10 years, Steven Bryant, claimed at the meeting that the new three-storey block will overlook his property.

He said: “The three-storey building is only 30 metres away from my garden.

"I have been opposed to it from the beginning, but the school hasn’t listened.

“While I understand we need more school places, I can’t ignore the fact that there will be 34 windows overlooking my house and invading my family’s privacy.”

But Fiona Dunning, head of development management at Redbridge council, rejected the concerns, saying the block will be 38 metres away and trees are due planted to obscure views.

She said: “There is so much pressure on children’s services in the borough that this extension is important to provide extra school places, so much so that the gym will be used as an extra classroom in the first year.

“As well as the new buildings, this plan will completely alter the entrance area to provide significantly improved access for pedestrians and vehicles, this will make children much safer.”