A school's playing field will be bulldozed to make way for a car park after plans, which also include classroom expansion, were granted.

Sutton Council's planning committee approved a bid to build new classrooms to provide 120 new places at Cheam Common Junior School in Kingsmead Avenue, Worcester Park, as well as using part of the playing field for a staff car park.

The plan would see 30 additional pupils start at the school in September next year.

Headteacher Jacqueline Fairhurst said: "This is an exciting period for us. 

"With our wonderful new facilities we can expand our provision and provide current and future pupils with a great learning environment."

Councillor Richard Clifton, planning committee chairman, said the council was pleased the school will now be able to meet the increasing need for places.

Kevin Candy, of Kingsmead Avenue, spoke at the meeting against the plans on behalf of his mother.

After the meeting, he said: "We are very disappointed with the outcome and do not consider the impact of placing a car park in such close proximity to our home was properly taken into consideration by the planners at the council. 

"While we understand the case for the school’s expansion, we believe if we had been included in the planning process before now, a way could have been found to accommodate the school’s need for expansion and our right not to be disturbed by cars parking so close to our home. 

"I think this case demonstrates why councils should not be judge and jury of their own applications."

The plans will create a new school kitchen, a new hall plus four new classrooms. The new classrooms will be created from two current halls and a new year-round play area will also be created.

The development will enable the expansion of the school from three-form entry for 360 pupils to four-form entry catering for 480 pupils.

A planting scheme will also be created to landscape an area and reduce noise next to a neighbouring property.