FAMILIES in south east Oxford in desperate need of childcare will be offered a lifeline after planning permission was granted for a new nursery at The Oxford Academy.

After months of false starts, the school in Sandy Lane West can now start creating its new 40-space facility, ready for September 2017.

Spaces will be offered to children of teachers at the school as well as parents in Blackbird Leys, Littlemore and Rose Hill.

Headteacher Niall McWilliams said: "We are delighted. It's really important for the school to show our commitment to the area.

"Nursery provision is really short in the area. This will be a new building with high-quality provision, and it will be great for our staff."

The 928 square-metre facility will be built on a patch of grass to the back of the main building next to the offices of 'Peeple', a Littlemore-based charity that will run the site.

Costing £500,000 in total, it will include a large main play area, a baby room and a family room as well as kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Up to 10 new jobs are set to be created and Oxford Academy teens studying childcare may be able to help out on the site for work experience.

Plans to build it were first submitted last year but rejected by Oxford City Council due to lack of a traffic management plan.

Mr McWilliams said: "Looking at the planning processes you can understand why they are slow, but it is a bit frustrating. It takes forever.

"It's always been a perfect little space; in some ways it's an isolated spot and it's got its own private area but it will be nice to see little ones running around."

Over the coming months The Oxford Academy and 'Peeple' will source contractors and supply extra construction, layout, surfacing and drainage information to the council.

Although work is most likely to be finished next September there is an outside chance it could be up and running in time for the Easter holidays.

Once open the nursery will cater for babies and children aged up to three years old, with opening hours likely to be from 7.30am to 6pm.