COLCHESTER Academy’s £15million redevelopment has been given the green light.

An L-shaped building encompassing an IT suite, dining hall and theatre will replace an existing block of classrooms. The sports centre and swimming pool will also be redeveloped.

Work is expected to begin in early July and be completed by Christmas 2013.

Colchester Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the application for the academy in Hawthorn Avenue, Greenstead.

Alison Andreas, a school governor, said: “By building a new academy, we are showing our young people are worth investing in.

“We are really pleased to have been given the green light.

“We can now move forward with the plans. There are still various contracts which need signing.

“It’s a school the community deserves. We have had a lot of communication with residents and that is something we are keen to continue.”

Some of the facilities, including the IT suite and sports facilities, will be available for public use.

The redevelopment has attracted fierce opposition from many residents.

They claimed the site was too close to their homes, would cause an increase in traffic and block out sunlight.

Plans were approved with the condition people who live there are regularly consulted.

A new landscaped area will be created on the demolition site once works are complete, with plans to plant 2.5 trees for every one lost in the scheme.

Residents have been promised their say in what species are put in.

The plans have been altered so the two-storey building, which faces properties, is white rather than grey. Upper floor windows will also be darkened for privacy and the bin store has been altered.

The plans were approved with 13 councillors voting in favour and one abstention.

The existing school building will be demolished in spring 2014, to minimise classroom disruption during the building work.

Principal Barry Hersom, said: “We are gaining a modern school for children of this community.

“It is a real vote of confidence in the young people of this community.

“We will have a fantastic vantage point of the work from our existing buildings and I’m hoping it will inspire some of the pupils interested in construction in their careers.”

He said he was hoping builders, Carillion, would move in as soon as July 2.