Plans for new Littleport secondary school are submitted

An artist's impression of how the new Littleport school and leisure complex could look. (Image: Archant)

The development will cost an estimated £30million and, if approved, will see the current leisure centre in Camel Road demolished to make way for a secondary school, special school and new leisure facility.

The site will also house a new primary school during a later phase of building work, which the council says will be complete by 2020.

Planning agents Atkins said: “The design of the building creates a flexible facility which is inspiring, engenders civic pride and responsibility, and can be enjoyed by as many people from the community as possible.”

The architects say the building will be energy efficient and will feature 184 secure cycle spaces, alongside more than 200 car parking spaces for staff and visitors.

Atkins added: “It is proposed that the existing leisure centre to the east of the site will be demolished and integrated into the co-located solution.

“School sports and community facilities will be managed and governed seperately and will share the campus ethos contributing to the unified facilities on the site.”

The schools will be run by Greenwood Dale, an academy trust which manages more than 20 schools across East Anglia.

The schools were scheduled to open in September 2016 and, despite delays in acquiring the land, the county council insists it is still “working towards” that date, though it admitted the start date for building had “slipped” from summer to autumn 2015.

The secondary school will cater initially for 600 pupils aged from 11 to 16, with the potential for future expansion up to 750 pupils.

The special school on the same site will cater for 110 pupils aged from two to 19 with special educational needs.

To view the plans, and to have a say, visit http://planning.cambridgeshire.gov.uk