Plans are 'developing at pace' for a new school building at Helena Romanes School in Dunmow, with work set to commence in spring.

The all-through school building will be situation off Stortford Road, and will provide space for pupils from Reception to Sixth Form, along with community sports facilities.

At the end of the autumn term the school signed off on the adjacencies, which meant agreeing on the basic floor plan for the building and grounds.

The Department for Education is now in the process of commissioning the construction company who will conclude the project.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of State has confirmed that the application to sell the existing school site has been approved, which the school describes as a "key milestone".

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Essex County Council can now take ownership of the adjacent land at Buttleys Lane, which will enable initial building works to take place in the spring.

Headteacher Catherine Davis and representatives from the Saffron Academy Trust are meeting with the Department for Education on a weekly basis.

Ms Davis said: "The funding is in place and the Trust, ECC and DfE are working at pace and in unison to deliver the new school building our young people so richly deserve."