A SOUTHAMPTON school has received consent to build a new sports hall as part of a £5.5m scheme to transform the campus.
The city council has approved an application relating to the 620-pupil Weston Secondary School - until recently known as Chamberlayne College for the Arts.
The proposed new hall is part of a "vast transformation" that will enable the site to match the standard achieved by other Southampton schools.
A council report said the facility would replace unused grassland and outdoor tennis courts that were not used by the public.
The report claimed the hall would be out of keeping with the existing school buildings but said it would be 29m from homes in Hurst Green Close.
The scale and nature of the halls would not cause any undue disturbance to neighbours or create extra traffic problems in the area.
A statement outlining plans to transform the site was issued in December last year.
It said: "Chamberlayne College for the Arts has begun a vast transformation that will result in its teaching and learning facilities being brought up to the standard of other Southampton schools.
"£5.5m is being spent on the refurbishment of the entire school, and many of its new facilities will be available to the local community."
The statement said the scheme would include a four court-sized sports hall with changing rooms, a new-look school gym, tiered seating in the school hall, and a new library.
Other proposed improvements included repairs to the school's roof, facades and windows. The vast majority of classrooms would be updated and re-decorated.
The statement included a comment from interim headteacher Stuart Wilkinson.
He said: "It’s an exciting time for the whole school community.
“The school has been on the site since the 1950s and for the first time, we’re seeing significant investment that’ll transform the learning environment and create impressive new facilities to make it a top choice for many families in the area.
“The building work also enables the school to offer better facilities for our local community in search of a venue for sports and leisure activities."
The school recently became an academy and joined Hamwic Education Trust.
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