A brand-new classroom is coming to one of Shepton Mallet's oldest schools – and despite the site's listed status, the council's given it the green light.

St Paul's CofE VC Junior School, tucked away on Paul Street, has secured planning permission for a modular single-storey block with teaching space and toilets. The new classroom will sit within the school grounds on a former play area, away from the Grade II listed building.

Somerset Council signed off on the plans, saying the timber-clad structure won't harm the heritage of the site or the character of the Shepton Conservation Area. Crucially, the new building won't mean more pupils or staff – it's simply there to ease pressure on existing classroom space.

Designed to blend in with the modern parts of the school, the block will feature vertical Thermowood cladding, flat roofing, and dark aluminium doors and windows. It'll also be slightly recessed into the ground for level access.

Planning officers confirmed the building won't be visible from Paul Street and won't impact the existing playground or green space. They also said there were no objections during the pre-application stage, and that the design avoids any harm to the listed school building or neighbouring homes.

St Paul's sits in a highly sensitive area – with tree preservation orders, conservation protections, and even SSSI impact zones – but the council concluded that the classroom was modest, appropriate, and in keeping with the site's use.

So while the setting may be historic, the school's getting a modern boost – with work now able to move forward on the new teaching space.