A NEW building for Monmouth Comprehensive School has been officially approved by planners.

The current school will be demolished to construct a new building under the Welsh Government's 21st Century School programme.

A new six lane swimming pool for use by the public and pupils will be integrated into the school.

The new building will measure approximately 5,659 metres square and will connect with the existing leisure centre building.

The school will replace the existing school buildings and swimming pool and will be designed to accommodate 1,600 pupils.

Councillor Bob Hayward expressed his concerns over the school's capacity of 1,600 pupils after receiving figures projecting that 1,700 pupils would be attending the school by 2019.

He said: "The size of the school at the moment holds 1,650 children. We're building a school with a lifespan of 60 years and we're building for a capacity of 1,600. Where's the flexibility?"

Councillor Roger Harries assured Cllr Hayward that 21st Century School buildings are "flexible in a way we've never seen before."

The plans were approved by councillors yesterday (7th July) and the school is set to open in September 2017.