A controversial proposal that would have seen local council estates excluded from the catchment area for a new West Norwood school has been scrapped.

Lambeth Council drew up proposals for a priority catchment area for Kingswood Primary School from 2011, after the school was chosen for expansion to ease the primary place shortage in the area.

But it caused controversy after it appeared an area in Knight's Hill ward of predominantly private homes would be given priority over streets closer to the area surrounding the school, which are dominated by council housing.

Political pressure and outrage from local parents has led Lambeth Council's cabinet member for housing, Councillor Paul McGlone, to ditch the proposals.

West Norwood and Dulwich MP Tessa Jowell was among those who objected.

Coun McGlone said the recently announced £9m of Government funding would see a new school built in West Norwood, meaning the pressure on primary school places in Knight's Hill would be eased and there was no longer a need for the priority area.

The original consultation document on the proposals stated the priority area was needed becasue families in Knight's Hill ward were too far from all schools to have priority for any of them.

The consultation into the issue closed on March 1.