TWO primary schools that have been affected by the national RAAC crisis will be allowed to keep temporary classrooms on site for at least two years.

Sections of Eldwick Primary School and Crossflatts Primary School were shut in late August after the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

The building material was popular between 1950 and 1990, but has a limited life span – just 30 years.

Schools, leisure centres and other buildings across the country have been closed in recent months over fears the presence of the concrete could lead to sections of building collapsing.

To keep the two Bradford District schools open, temporary classrooms, made out of Portakabins, were installed at both schools at the beginning of the Autumn term.

Last month, the Department for Education submitted retrospective planning applications to retain these temporary classrooms for at least two years.

These planning applications have now been approved by Bradford Council, on the condition that each school’s grounds are returned to their original condition once the portacabins are no longer needed.

The applications said survey works over the Summer had found classrooms in the school buildings were “critically unsafe” and needed urgent remediation works to replace the RAAC sections.

The DfE added: “We seek approval (for the temporary classrooms) for up to two years, after this time students and staff will return to the school buildings and the Portakabin building removed from site.”

Approving the Eldwick Primary School plans, officers said: “The proposal does not overshadow or overlook any residential properties in the local area as there is significant separation between the Portakabin building and the surrounding residential properties.

“It is appreciated that sports do take place within the school grounds however the school are able to effectively timetable classes to take place in the remaining space to the north of the scheme. Thus, the development has no impact on the school's ability to provide sports provision.”

One person had objected to the Crossflatts application, saying the temporary classrooms were “unsightly” and blocked views.

Approving to the Crossflatts application, officers made similar comments to those in the Eldwick approval, adding: “The proposal will not have an adverse effect on amenity. The proposal raises no issues for highway safety, contamination, biodiversity, drainage or any other planning-related matter.”

Conditions added to both applications require the schools to return the sites where the Portakabins are located to their original state by December 2026.