Work is now set to begin to get an old college building in central Watford ready to be a primary school and nursery in time for September.

West Herts Community Free School Trust has said following planning permission, which was granted on Thursday (January 30), it can start work to turn the Lanchester building in West Herts College, into the Watford Town Community Free School.

The school is set to take 60 new pupils in September as part of a programme of founding new schools and expanding existing ones to head off a looming admissions crisis.

The new school, off Hempstead Road, will also temporarily house 60 new pupils who were due to start at another new school off Ascot Road as the building work will not be completed for September.

This week, John Harris, chairman of West Herts Community Free School Trust said: "We are very pleased with the positive decision from the Development Control Committee. Local children will benefit from an outstanding education in this great building.

"We can now focus our efforts on preparation for opening in September 2014, working in partnership with parents and the local community."

On Thursday Watford Borough Council’s Development Control approved plans to convert the Lanchester building into the new school in the face of strong opposition to part of the proposals from people living nearby.

Scores of residents from the Cassiobury estate complained that plans to reopen a disused footpath from the site to Cassiobury Drive, saying it would create dangerous traffic problems as it would become the main access point.

However, the committee added a condition to planning permission stating the school could only use the path to take pupils to activities in Cassiobury Park.