A NEW primary school was built without full planning permission, it has emerged.

The é2m Sandbrook Community School, in Rochdale, opened in September.

But changes were made to the original design and a fresh application was not received by planning bosses until this month.

Builders began work on the 300-pupil school, which merged Hill Top and Hartley Lane, in 2005.

But alterations making the building slightly smaller were deemed significant enough to justify a new application to `regularise the situation'.

Planners said the education authority was told of this `months ago'.

Chief planning officer Alan Whale said the work carried on despite the warning that new permission was needed.

Councillors have given approval to the retrospective appeal, but warned that others might not be so fortunate.

'Standards'

Coun Allen Brett said: "If this had been an application by a private developer and not the education authority, we would have taken action long before now.

"Not only is it important to maintain standards, but also to show that we are doing so."

Planners will now write to education bosses asking for an explanation of the mix-up and warning that planning rules must be followed in future with more new schools set to be built.

Sue Brown, the head of school services, said: "The council followed all the correct procedures in re-submitting the application and did not breach any planning regulations.

"The site already had planning permission and this re-submission was simply to take into account some relatively minor changes and a reduction in the overall size of the original. The concerns raised by councillors have been picked up and will be looked at," she said.