PLANS for a state-of-the-art building to serve pupils and staff at the Winsford E-ACT Academy will be revealed next month.

The plans are expected to be submitted to the Government in September before consultation, involving the whole community, begins in the autumn.

Subject to planning approval, construction will start next spring and is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2013.

Work will then begin on the demolition of the existing building, which should be complete by 2014.

Clr Mark Stocks, executive member for education and children, said: “We are entering a very exciting time for the pupils and staff of the Winsford E-Act Academy.

“Since we received Government approval in May to proceed with the feasibility study, we have been working closely with our partners, including E-ACT, builders Kier and their design team BDP to develop a vision for the new academy.

“We are committed to delivering an eco-friendly building with state-of-the-art facilities which provides a stimulating learning environment where all pupils are encouraged to reach their full potential.

“Subject to approval of the feasibility study, the next step is to develop a detailed designs to take out to public consultation.

“The views of local residents will be vital to shaping this new educational facility which will benefit many generations of Winsford youngsters.”

The building project was made possible in December 2010 when the Government announced a £19.5m grant for the work.

Andy Taylor-Edwards, principal of the Winsford Academy, said: “We are incredibly excited about the new build which will provide the young people of Winsford with an Academy they richly deserve and can be justifiably proud of.

“We, of course, look forward to September 2013 with great anticipation, but in the intervening two-year period, we are acutely aware that we must not be distracted from our core business of driving up educational standards in our present building and continuing with this excellent start the Academy has made since opening.”