It's official — a primary school currently bursting at the seams is to get a much-needed extension.

Hampshire County Council’s regulatory committee unanimously approved the extension at Elvetham Heath Primary School in Fleet.

The new building will provide room for an extra 210 pupils, bringing the school’s capacity to 630 places.

It ends years of uncertainty for parents desperate to get their children a place in their local school.

There was anger when 28 children living on the growing estate were initially denied places at the school for the 2006 intake.

Seventeen sets of parents appealed, maintaining that Hampshire County Council’s decision was unreasonable and that children who live in Elvetham Heath should go to the community’s school.

Those who appealed said the county council had made a “glaring error” when planning the size of the primary school.

They pointed out that for the previous two years the school had also had to turn away a large number of four-year-olds, sending them to other primary schools in the Fleet area.

Hampshire County Council argued that the problem was likely to subside in the next few years, but campaigners warned that the development was not yet complete and large numbers of young families continued to move onto the estate.

However, the problem has been solved now planning permission for the extension has been granted.

Cllr Sharyn Wheale, who represents Elvetham Heath on Hampshire County Council and is a member of its children’s services committee, spoke at the regulatory committee on behalf of residents on the growing estate.

“I explained the background and the reasons why this school extension is desperately needed,” she said.

“For many years now parents who actually live on the estate have struggled to get their children a place in their local school. This decision has taken 18 months and has the full support of the school and parents. I’m delighted with the outcome.”

The committee ruled that subject to a legal agreement to secure money for a replacement sports pitch, planning permission for a one form entry extension to the school and associated landscape works be granted.

Cllr Wheale added: “This extension will provide places for the majority of children on Elvetham Heath that request them.

“In future years the predictions of Hampshire County Council is that the number of children on the estate will decrease.”

Cllr Wheale said that as a governor she will liase between the school and the county council to ensure the building work runs as smoothly as possible, with minimal disruption for pupils and staff.

To enable the extension to be built, Hampshire County Council is seeking to acquire a long leasehold interest in about an acre of playing field adjoining the primary school.

To overcome this loss, the county council is entering into a legal agreement with Hart District Council and Beazer Homes Ltd for a £165,000 contribution towards a full-size floodlit artificial pitch as part of the new 300-home development at Hitches Lane, Fleet.

As Hart District Council’s portfolio holder for assets, Cllr David Simpson has been heavily involved in the negotiations.

He said: “It was my suggestion that they use the land at Hitches Lane, which is only a few hundred yards away.

“I’m delighted that the extension is now going ahead but it was always crazy that the education authority did not listen when we said the school would not be big enough.

“From the moment it was built it was not fit for purpose.”

The new extension will include six classrooms, a music and drama room, an ICT suite and pupil toilets.

It will make Elvetham Heath the largest primary school in Hart district and one of the largest in Hampshire.

The extension scheme also includes the provision of a shared use junior-size grass playing field, a netball court-sized playground, informal paved areas and an early years enclosed play area linking to nature study areas and a formal playground.

A Hampshire County Council spokeswoman said it intends to start construction on site at the start of the school summer holidays, with a view to completing the extension ready for use from September 2009.