A NEW school planned for Merstham should open in two years' time.
What's more, 420-pupil Lime Tree Primary School, with provision for 26 nursery places, will have community-wide benefits, according to a senior council officer.
Planning permission for the new school – to be built on the site of Battlebridge Lane skate park – was granted by Surrey County Council in February.
In the meantime the school is in a temporary home in Alexander Road, Reigate, before the big move in the spring of 2016.
The financial details behind the new venture are under wraps ahead of building tenders being allocated.
But Peter-John Wilkinson, the council's assistant director for schools and learning, explained the rationale behind the project.
He said: "The numbers of children starting school in Reigate and Redhill have been increasing for some years.
"This has been caused by an increase in births, families moving into the borough, and families moving into new housing.
"The numbers of children needing a school place are projected to continue to increase for the next five years."
Births in Reigate and Redhill are around 22 per cent higher than they were at the turn of the millennium, added Mr Wilkinson.
Another factor prompting the need for a new school, he said, was new developments being constructed nearby, including the Water Colour estate and Park 25 in Redhill.
The new school will include 14 classrooms, "break-out spaces" for one-to-one learning, a hall with dining facilities and a practical room, with a sports pitch nearby.
Mr Wilkinson added: "The proposal would provide increased provision in the area, which would benefit all in the community served by the school."
Its head teacher Jo Newton said: "We are excited.
"We are working closely with Surrey County Council on this. We are looking forward to welcoming the next cohort in."
Concerns about likely traffic problems, noise, lack of space and the loss of green belt land were previously raised by some near-neighbours.
But Redhill West and Meadvale councillor Natalie Bramhall had warned that not proceeding with the planned school would have devastating consequences.
The site is owned by the Diocese of Southwark, which agreed to sell the land once the plans were approved.
In January 2012, the borough council said it would look into relocating the skate park once the plans were approved.
Though the plans were granted permission in February, no further announcements about the skate park have been made.
