Harrow Borough Council’s cabinet has approved a recommendation to allow a free school be built on Whitchuch Playing Fields.

Councillors approved the proposals this evening following announcement from the Education Funding Agency that the Avanti School trust could use the site in Wemborough Road, Stanmore.

The council has agreed to grant consent for the creation of a free school, agreed terms of a 125-year lease for the site and terms of community as part of the lease.

Plans for the school are due to be submitted to Harrow Council later this year.

Under the proposals the new school site would have a total of 1,260 pupils after it reached its full capacity and will be the largest free school in the country.