New primary school plans have been given a £5.7 million boost.

The Government money means the programme to build a new school in Hove has been brought forward by two years.

The capital grant was awarded to Brighton and Hove City Council after it applied for funding to provide much-needed additional primary school places by 2011.

The money will be put towards an £8.5 million school in Hove, which has a severe shortage of primary school places.

Plans are also in place to expand Westdene Primary in Bankside, Brighton, and Goldstone Primary in Laburnam Avenue, Hove, by 30 places each and Queen’s Park Primary in Freshfield Place, Brighton, by 15 places, subject to consultation.

Councillor Vanessa Brown, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We are delighted with this news which will enable us to ensure that we have sufficient primary school places for our children in the city, both in the short and longer term.”

In September the council announced plans to provide a minimum of 135 new primary places – the equivalent of four and a half new classes – by 2011.

There has been a shortage of places in the BN3 postcode area, which has meant some children sent to primaries up to four miles from home.

Council bosses are currently considering four potential sites in Hove for the new school, including a depot at Hove Park, an area on the site of Hove Park School in Nevill Road, part of BHASVIC college in Dyke Road and playing fields in Leicester Villas, Hove.

It is expected the school could now been built by 2012/13.

The funding, which was announced yesterday, is part of an allocation of £300 million from the department for children, schools and families to meet an increase in pupil numbers.