MILL Chase has taken a step closer to £1 million proposals for a new building and extension becoming reality after a project appraisal for the scheme was approved.
Last Thursday Hampshire County Council leader Ken Thornber rubber-stamped the appraisal meaning that once the final hurdle of securing planning permission is obtained the scheme can go ahead.
The plans were put forward to expand the schoolÕs premises, to increase its capacity by 118 pupils, as well as replace the existing temporary building which sits on the site of the demolished D block.
The school hopes to have a two-storey teaching block constructed to the east of the school site, on an area currently occupied by a rural studies building which will be demolished as the start of the building contract.
The teaching block will provide two science laboratories with a shared preparation room, two stores and an accessible WC on the ground floor, and three general teaching classrooms and an office on the first floor.
A covered walkway will be constructed to link the new science block to existing teaching blocks to the north and south which are used for teaching science.
An extension to the drama block has also been approved which faces the playing field and is designed to accommodate steps leading up from the ground floor to provide a seating/viewing area.
The report said that the total cost of the project is £1,008,000 of which £25,000 was donated by the community school to fund the undercover walkway.
A formal planning application for the project was submitted to the county planning officer in July and the council believes that permission will be granted within a matter of days.
Hampshire County Council spokesman Damon Embling said: ÒWe anticipate that tenders will be invited during November 2001 and that works will commence on site during February 2002.
ÒWe believe that it will be completed for the start of the new autumn term in September 2002.Ó