PLANNING permission has been granted for the construction of a new secondary school right in the heart of the Wichel development.
The Deanery CE Academy, which will educate pupils aged 11 to 18, will be situated near Waitrose in East Wichel.
Planning permission was formally sought by developers BAM Construction earlier this year and they have now been accepted.
Linda Culling, principal designate of The Deanery, said: “I am absolutely delighted that planning permission has been granted. There have been some delays to the project in the past, but now I feel we can really begin to make progress.”
Since the public consultation in January of this year, BAM has worked closely with the Borough’s planning officers to ensure that the building meets their requirements and will be a landmark at the centre of the new community.
It is anticipated that the formal contract with BAM will be signed at the beginning of August with work on site beginning later that month, and a formal turf cutting ceremony in September.
The Deanery Church of England Academy will take in 210 students in each year group.
It is due to open in September 2019 and will be taking applications for Year 7 from September 2018.
Former PE teacher Linda, who began teaching in Swindon in 1992 at Oakfield School in Marlowe Avenue, spoke to the Adver earlier this year about the ambitious plans for the school.
An enthusiastic Linda said: “I am incredibly excited. I have known about the development for a number of years and have been keeping a close eye on it – it will be a huge privilege to be a part of it.
“There will be some brilliant facilities and I hope a lot of people will apply to send their children here.”
The school is intended to increase choice in Swindon, where there is currently no Church of England secondary school.
Up to 50 per cent of places will be reserved for children linked to the church, and additional funding from Swindon Borough Council - around € 10m – has been made available to provide sports and arts facilities including an all-weather pitch and 440 seater auditorium.