PLANS are set to be approved today for a new £27 million secondary school in the heart of Southampton.

Allowing space for 900 pupils, the six-form entry school will be built on the St Mark’s Primary School site and neighbouring ex-civil service playing fields sites in Freemantle.

If given the green light by cabinet this afternoon, civic chiefs will begin developing the plans, which includes expanding a further two school to accommodate an additional 600 spaces.

In total, the scheme is set to cost £48.86 million.

The decision comes after the authority said it would create 1,500 new secondary places in the central region of the city by 2023, which prompted it to add £67.45 million to its education fund in February.

Several other options are also available to cabinet, including an expansion-only strategy, and the creation of a 1,500-place school.

However, they are expected to follow the officers’ recommendation of a new 900-place school, with a 600-pupil expansion project at several schools across the county. These additional places would add 300 places each to St George Catholic College and St Anne’s Catholic College.

As part of the plans, a consultation of parents, residents, businesses, and local groups will take place before the scheme is officially given the go-ahead.

On completion, the new secondary school will become an academy, the council has said.

Commenting on the need for the school, children and families service director Hillary Brooks said: “Southampton, like many other local authorities, is currently facing an increase in the number of secondary age pupils it will have to accommodate in its schools, peaking around 2023/24.”

Cevn Vibert, chairman of Friends of the Field group – which fought to save the playing fields – has welcomed the scheme, but warned the council not to ruin the green space.

“I am interested in what the plan is,” said Mr Vibert.

“What I am most interested in is the provision of the area of the field. If the council is looking to build then logically they will build on the side nearest to the housing, which will leave the field with a lot of open space left.”

He added: “I think it is yet to be seen how the scheme will be.

“My main concern, however, is a loss of green space. There is very little green space in the city as it is, and I hope the plans don’t resulting in us losing more.

“The previous work I have seen tabled many moons ago were fantastic and supported community use (of the fields).

“I hope this new scheme will be thought about in the same way. If not, we run the risk of losing what we have worked very hard to get.”

Southampton City Council’s cabinet meeting will take place at 4.30pm in the civic centre’s council chambers.