A PREP school is set to be given permission to build a new sports pitch and play area after planning experts recommended that councillors rubber stamp the plans.

St Aubyn's School in Bunces Lane, Woodford Green, has applied to build a multi-use games area and playground, which it would share with nearby Churchfields School.

The council received 14 letters of objection from residents living nearby, outlining a number of concerns such as the possibility for noise pollution from night time use, and that the playground would sit too close to neighbouring properties.

However the plans include strict stipulations that the play areas would only be used during the daytime and by school pupils who are either on the site already or could access it on foot.

The submitted plans also show that the nearest homes to the site of the playground sit several metres away and would only occupy the same land as the existing field inside school grounds.

Residents had also raised concerns about the impact on drainage in the area, but the proposal includes landscaping works in order to compensate for the increase in non-porous land.

New trees will also be planted to keep the play area out of sight of the surrounding area and the council's environmental team said that there would be no adverse ecological impact.

The council's planning authority has recommended that application is granted, provided that the rules about hours of use are adhered to.

The school had previously submitted a similar application in 2008, which was refused on the grounds that it included two pitches. However the current scheme includes just one pitch and an unmarked play area, which has satisfied the planning experts.

Members of Redbridge Police's Regional Planning Committee West will meet on Wednesday (July 28) to decide on the application.

The Guardian was unable to contact St Aubyn's for comment because the school has already broken up for the summer holidays.