A NEW school could be built in Selby to cope with increasing demand for pupil places.

Following the opening of 1,200 properties as part of Persimmon Homes' Staynor Hall development, the need for a space at a school in the area has risen dramatically.

Plans have now been submitted to Selby District Council in a bid to build the school, which will have playing fields and a car park on the Bawtry Road site.

Cllr Brian Marshall, Selby and Barlby councillor for North Yorkshire County Council, said the area has needed a new school for a number of years to cope with the number of homes being built since 2005.

He said: "We are over-subscribed at the moment.

"This will definitely help because we definitely need a new school.

"There are hundreds of houses around, so we were going to be struggling if we didn't do something."

The Press revealed last year that a brand new school may need to be built to cope with an influx of residents onto the housing estate.

North Yorkshire County Council has previously said some extra places had already been provided at Barwic Parade Primary School as a short-term solution, but more new places are expected to be needed from September 2016, when the developer expects the school to be open.

Simon Usher, deputy managing director at Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: “The development of a school at our Selby location is currently undergoing the Environmental Impact Assessment screening process, in advance of a formal planning submission.

"We expect to receive a decision in the next few months.

“Over the coming years, we intend to build a further 600 new homes at our Selby development and are currently in the process of opening a new four-bedroom show home and a two-bedroom apartment.

"The new school will be a great asset to existing residents and future families as well as being a focal point for the community.”