Residents have warned bosses behind the country’s first bilingual primary school that they will face strong opposition to plans for a new 650-pupil school near their homes.

The Bilingual Primary School, Brighton and Hove, has announced its plans to build its permanent home in The Droveway, Hove.

The plans would see a three-storey school for 650 pupils built on the site of a gardeners’ depot next to the Engineerium.

However, opposing residents have said they are worried nearby streets will be swamped with school traffic.

The Bilingual Primary School opened in September and is based temporarily in classrooms at the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy in Falmer.

The Spanish/English school has proposed building a new school on the site of the Hove Park Depot and invited residents to see its plans this week.

Pole position

Brighton and Hove City Council had identified the site in its school organisation plan 2012-2016 as a potential site for a primary school.

However, under current legislation free schools and academies are given priority for funding where new schools are needed, putting the bilingual school in pole position.

As this site has not previously been used for educational purposes the Department for Education will need to purchase the site from the council and will also pay construction costs.

Plans to create a permanent home for the King’s Church of England Free School on the BHASVIC playing fields in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, was scrapped last week by Government minister Lord Nash.

Valerie Paynter, of conservation group Save Hove, said: “It would be absolutely outrageous to put this great big three-storey building right on the edge of the park.

"The site can only be about two acres, compared to the 22 acres at BHASVIC so if it’s not suitable for BHASVIC, it’s not suitable for Hove Park.”

Resident Neil Lewis, 51, of Goldstone Crescent, said: “It will turn Goldstone Crescent into an absolute nightmare, it’s busy now.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “While this location is not ideal it will help to meet the need for new primary places, especially as the specialist nature of the school means it is likely to draw pupils from a wider area across the city.”