The Russell School will be demolished and redeveloped to create a new purpose-built campus which will also house Strathmore School.

The proposals were approved by Richmond Council's planning committee at York House, Twickenham, on Wednesday, April 29.

Harry James, chair of governors at Strathmore School, said the special school in Meadlands Drive, Ham, was "bursting at the seams".

He said: "Strathmore is a specialist school for children with severe and multiple learning difficulties.

"It currently has 57 pupils and 58 members of staff in a building that is barely designed for 40 of each.

"It's bursting at the seams - the buildings are in poor conditions and create barriers to learning."

However, Councillor Penelope Frost, councillor for Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside, spoke at the meeting to raise concerns over the traffic and environmental impacts of the development.

She said: "It is impossible to judge what cumulative impact of the three phases of this scheme will be as we only have phase one here this evening."

Councillor Susan Chappell said she understood residents' concerns over traffic and parking but voted in favour of the development.

She said: "I think, on balance, it is a very clear one for me - I will be voting in favour and I hope the school will work very closely with residents as I'm sure they do at the moment."

The plans were approved unanimously and are now subject to a stage two referral to the Greater London Assembly.