New £22.5m school plans approved

It is hoped pupils will move into the new school in September 2008

Plans for a multi-million pound secondary school building in Cornwall have been approved.

County councillors voted unanimously to support the replacement building for Penryn College.

The new building will cost about £22.5m and will be funded by the government's Building Schools for the Future scheme.

The school will cater for up to 1,060 students and 200 staff. It will offer extended services for the local community, opening from 0800 to 2200.

The building has been designed to meet the latest "excellent" rating by the British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating.

Car reduction

Low energy and renewable energy design features will include wind turrets, a biomass wood boiler and rain water harvesting for the college's toilet systems.

A travel plan will also be developed to help reduce car travel by encouraging greater bus and coach travel.

The chair of governors said the college was on target for the new building to open in September 2008.

"This is a really exciting time and all the staff and students at the collage are looking forward to the opening day," Henry Preston said.

Penryn, which is a specialist sports college, currently has about 900 students on its register.