HUNDREDS of primary school places will be created with the expansion of six schools in East Sussex.

Proposals for 623 additional school places in Eastbourne, Hastings and Ringmer were given the go ahead by the council’s lead member for Learning and School Effectiveness, Cllr Nick Bennett.

Plans for West Rise Community Infant School and West Rise Junior School in Eastbourne, Robsack Wood Community Primary School in Hastings and Ringmer Primary School were approved following feedback from members of the public.

The creation of additional places at St Andrew’s CE Infant School and Tollgate Community Junior School in Eastbourne was also approved, but Cllr Bennett asked officers to explore alternatives ahead of any expansion.

“We are rising to the challenge of meeting the demand for additional primary school places and are looking at a range of options to meet that demand across the county,” said Cllr Bennett.

“The pressure on primary school places is an issue we cannot ignore, with rising birth rates and housing developments creating a need for additional places. The expansions of these schools will help to ensure demand is met in these areas over the coming years and that every child in East Sussex is offered a suitable place at a primary school.”

In Eastbourne, 420 additional school places will be created by September 2016 and 98 places in Hastings and 105 in Ringmer will be created by September 2015.

Designs for the expansions will now be finalised before planning permission is sought.

East Sussex County Council has already identified approximately £17.5million in its capital programme to create additional school places to meet demand in the county.