WORK has begun on 120 houses at the site of a former Hampshire school.

A multi-million pound project to convert the old Bishopsfield School into housing is approaching its final stages.

Laurel Grove in Fareham is on course for its first sales in autumn, with more than half of the eight-acre site set aside for open space.

The school, a forerunner to Fareham College, operated between 1961 and 1979.

Its buildings have been bulldozed to make way for houses with up to five bedrooms, a play area and a new access off Bishopsfield Road.

Developer Bloor Homes said the homes would “reflect the style of a typical English village”.

Fareham College sold the site in 2014 as it moved students and staff to a purpose-built Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Training on the Daedalus airfield in Lee-on-Solent.

Cash from the sale was used to help fund the £28 million development and refurbishment on campus.

John Lusty, regional managing director at Bloor Homes Southern, said: “We’re delighted to have made a start on our new Laurel Grove development, which as well as funding the college’s refurbishment will bring a derelict site back into use and deliver much-needed housing for Fareham.”

Fareham Borough Council leader Sean Woodward started the demolition of his former school the following month alongside fellow alumni from contractors Wessex Demolition & Salvage Ltd.

As part of the conditions of planning permission, Bloor will provide funding of £44,480 for the maintenance of an equipped play area and a further £20,237 for improvements to areas of public open space in the area.