St Benedict’s Catholic School, in Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds, hoping to install new windows and air conditioning

A school is hoping to install new windows and air conditioning to make its classrooms a better learning environment.

St Benedict’s Catholic School, in Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds, has submitted plans to West Suffolk Council to revamp the block in the south east corner of its main building.

A planning statement said these classrooms are exposed to sunlight year-round, and in the warmer months this can make them very uncomfortable, creating a difficult teaching environment.

The statement said, by installing uPVC in this block, with powder coated aluminium double glazing, it could reduce the amount of solar gain.

The air conditioning units would help to control the temperature in the rooms and provide ‘much needed cooling’ during warmer weather, as well as additional heating if required during colder times.

Condensing units for the air conditioning will be on the roof of the first floor, or low footfall areas of the ground floor around the classroom block. They will have steel cages around them to stop people gaining access to them.

The new windows have been designed to create minimum impact on the building’s appearance.

The plans will not change the size and scale of the school, nor is there a proposed increase in the number of pupils or staff through them.

Find out about planning notices that affect you via the Public Notice Portal.

A decision on the application is due by June 3.