PLANS for a new secondary school in Middlesbrough have moved a step closer.

The proposals for a building to replace Acklam Grange School have been agreed by Middlesbrough Council's planning committee.

The school is part of a £96m scheme, which will lead to three schools being built in Acklam under the Government's Building Schools for the Future initiative.

The application has now been referred to the Secretary of State and Government Office NorthEast for clearance.

If the project is approved, the building will be on the school's playing fields, but they will be reinstated on the site of the former school, with an increase in the size of the sports facilities.

The present school, apart from the Acorn Centre, the Community Learning Centre and the caretaker accommodation, will be demolished. Councillor John McPartland, chairman of the council's planning and development control committee, said: "The committee has approved the application in principle. There was representation from three members of the public, who all had a different point of view about the application.

"Proposals for a haul road for building traffic caused some concern, but members felt it was a better option than the traffic coming down through Lodore Grove. I must reiterate it will only be a temporary road and, as part of the approval, it needs to be removed before the new school can open.

"Now the outline plan has been approved, it will be submitted to Government Office NorthEast for them to consider whether the scheme needs to be called in for inspection."

The design of the building will be the subject of a detailed planning application, but the main access to the site from Lodore Grove will be retained, along with access from Heythrop Drive.

The temporary haul road was objected to by some residents, who complained they had not been notified, others were worried about unnecessary intrusion and objected to the haul road being built.

Lodore Residents' Association had no objection to the school being built, and secretary Joan Olley said the present building was "way past its sell-by date".

Councillors voted to accept the recommendations.