A primary school will finally be able to move into its long-awaited permanent home.  Paxton Academy, in Thornton Heath, has been based in temporary buildings for the past four years. In April last year Croydon Council refused permission for a four-storey school to be built for 630 pupils aged from four to 11 years old with a rooftop “play deck” and parking.  The reasons for refusal included overdevelopment fears and there not being enough room for outdoor play. The free school in Brigstock Road opened in 2014 and is a sports and science specialist school. In September last year Ofsted deemed the school “required improvement” and expressed concern about security on the site.   Following the refusal, the school appealed the decision and on Thursday, June 28 the appeal, adjudicated on by secretary of state for planning James Brokenshire, went in favour of the school.  Paxton Academy’s permanent home will be in London Road on a site which used to be occupied by the Oaks Day Hospital. A letter from the Mr Brokenshire’s office said: “Overall, the scale, height and massing of the proposal would be in accordance with much of the surrounding development. “In particular, the secretary of state agrees with the inspector that the problem of providing a sufficient amount and quality of play space has been resolved by designing into the scheme a rooftop play deck and a second floor multi use games area which would provide all-year facilities. “And that this, along with the off-site provision for sports days, athletics and swimming – which the academy already uses in conjunction with other institutions, means that an inadequate provision of play space would not be an obstacle for the proposal.” At the time there were objections from nearby residents that the school would cause a disturbance. The appeal decision added: “Additional objections relating to disturbance to local residents have not been supported by substantial evidence and he therefore gives them no weight against the proposal.”  Although the plans have been given the backing of the secretary of state for planning, the decision  can be challenged by an application to the High Court in the next six weeks.