RESIDENTS preparing for building work on a controversial school expansion in Wantage can expect it to take one year to complete.

Building experts at Carillion construction released a vague timetable last week for work at King Alfred's Academy, where a new science block will be built as part of £16m redevelopment plans.

One month of "enabling work" is due to be carried out at the site in Portway in the coming weeks to prepare the site for building, according to documents published on Vale of White Horse District Council's website.

Construction of a new two-storey science building and the refurbishment of an existing four-storey teaching block is set to start in October and last until the following October, with most of the structural work expected to be completed in March.

Single-storey classrooms will be demolished as part of the plans, which were unanimously approved by the district council in April despite objections from 55 residents.

The 1,800-pupil school hopes to sell its East Site in Springfield Road to a housing developer for an estimated £11m to part-fund the expansion project.

More documents submitted to the council by head teacher Simon Spiers as part of the planning process outline information about traffic management, drainage and tree protection.

Carillion pledged to not permit any "project related vehicles" to park on the public road during the building work.

It will encourage large lorries to route through Reading Road, the A34, the M4 and the A420 when delivering heavy goods and avoid school drop-off times.