Proposals have been tabled to continue using a former office block as a Free School until 2020.

Olive Primary School – a Muslim educational establishment – wants to continue using London House.

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The school is already in operation – since March this year – and has 120 pupils being educated on site and 20 full-time equivalent staff.

A new change of use application is needed to ensure the school, in Primrose Hill, can continue operating when its current permission expires.

Proposals from architects Cushman and Wakefield, acting on behalf of the Education and Skills Funding Agency, outlines how pupils numbers are due to rapidly increase.

An additional 60 pupils per year will be taken in by Olive Primary so by September 2019 the school has 300 pupils.

Read more: Muslim school for girls in Preston rated as outstanding

To deal with the expanded numbers the free school will share facilities with Eden Boys School, operating in the opposite office block, for sports and dining.

The school currently operates from 8.30am to 2.45pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 11.45am on Fridays. There’s also a breakfast club from 7.15am and enrichment activities from 2.45pm to 3.30pm on Monday to Thursday.

The plans explain how the Tauheedul Education Trust – who operate the school – has struck a deal with a private car park at nearby Cranborne Street for the use of 77 car parking spaces for staff, drop-off and visitors.

The EFA is continuing work to identify and build a permanent Free School with the aim of opening it by September 2020.

You can see the full plans for Olive Primary on the city council website and leave comments there.

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