PROPOSALS to build a replacement secondary school in Whitehill and Bordon have been given the seal of approval by Hampshire County Council’s leader.

At his policy and resources decision day last Wednesday, Roy Perry gave his backing for the county council to enter negotiations to acquire the land needed, to secure additional funding and to dispose of the former school, in order to enable a new academy facility to be built for 2019.

He also approved a county-council investment of £10m toward the £30m cost to build the new school on land currently owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Budds Lane.

“As a large county, with capacity and significant resources, we are one of the few public bodies able to make projects like this happen,” Mr Perry said. “This is a further example of the key and active role the county council has in the regeneration of Whitehill and Bordon.

“We have demonstrated commitment to delivering the essential infrastructure needed for the new town.

“We have worked closely every step of the way with our partners at the MoD, the Homes and Communities Agency, the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership and East Hampshire District Council, and we will continue to do so.”

He added: “I am proud to learn that our standing as a major stakeholder, working effectively and collaboratively with partners to regenerate the area, has been commended by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Sajid Javid). The scheme has also been cited by the MoD as an exemplar model of good practice to other authorities up and down the country.”

The new school will replace the existing Mill Chase Academy, which is currently located in Mill Chase Road, on the eastern side of the town, in buildings that are “beginning to have major operational problems and are in need of extensive refurbishment”.

Work is under way to finalise plans for the new secondary school, and to agree the terms and conditions for a new school site, the granting of a lease to the academy sponsor (Chichester University Academy Trust), and the sale of the existing Mill Chase site.

“In order to build a successful community, you must have a good school,” Mr Perry added. “By providing a replacement school, educational opportunities in Whitehill and Bordon will be reinvigorated and much improved, in keeping with our commitment for the whole of the county. Construction of the new school facility will ensure that young people living locally, including those from families moving into the new homes over the coming years, and those from existing service families, will be able to go to a secondary school near to where they live which offers exceptional educational, recreational and community amenities. Somehow I doubt a brand new school would have been achieved but for this contribution from the county council.

“At Hampshire County Council, we have also helped with a funding solution for the crucial distributor road that was essential for an early start to the scheme. We are also involved in the provision of a primary school, help for the skills centre and we have ensured these new homes will start with good broadband capacity.”