A primary school is set to expand after a request to fund an extension to cater for an additional 129 pupils was approved.

Gwynedd Council’s cabinet has confirmed the investment will be provided to expand Ysgol y Faenol in Bangor as part of a multi million pound reorganisation of primary education in the city.

A planning application will be submitted to refurbish the current structure and build the extension increasing capacity from 186 to 315 pupils. If approved, work would start in the summer.

According to Gwynedd Council, this new extension will include modern purpose-built classrooms compatible with education in the 21st Century as well as a pre-school and community facility making the school a hub for that area of Penrhosgarnedd.

It comes just a week after building work officially started on a new school to replace Ysgol y Garnedd, which will see its capacity increased to 420 but  Ysgol Coed Mawr and Ysgol Glanadda closed.

The cost of completing the Faenol and Garnedd elements of the reorganisation of primary education in Bangor has been calculated as £12.7 million, which includes a Welsh Government grant of £6.35 million with Gwynedd Council funding the remaining 50%.

Thsis is also made up of a £1,115,387 contribution from housing developers as part of an agreement regarding the Goetre Uchaf development, and the revenue from any sites sold  up to £749,613.

 Welcoming the development, which was unanimously approved by Gwynedd’s cabinet on Tuesday (March 12), was the cabinet member for education Cllr Gareth Thomas who hailed it as “an exciting time for primary education in Bangor”.

He said: “By increasing the size of both schools, we are enabling more places for local children at a time when the population is increasing and the demand for places at these schools is high.

“We are very pleased to be able to provide modern and suitable schools for the area.”

It is expected that the planning application to extend Ysgol y Faenol will considered shortly, and if approved, work to refurbish and extend the building is due to start in the summer.