PLANS are forging ahead for Bicester's newest school after an application for the 600-pupil secondary was submitted.

The proposed school, put forward by Oxfordshire County Council, is part of the ongoing development on the Kingsmere estate.

If approved, Alchester Academy is expected to open in September 2019 and would be run by The White Horse Federation as an academy.

County spokesman Owen Morton said: "The council has secured the site and developer funding but the school will be an academy, as all new schools are required to be.

"The academy sponsor that has been identified is The White Horse Federation. They also manage Southwold Primary School and the new Gagle Brook Primary School in Bicester, as well as West Kidlington Primary School."

The secondary school is planned to serve the south west Bicester site which will have up to 2,450 homes once complete.

Building has been going on since 2010 and more than 500 homes have already been built, as well as a sports ground and a new building for St Edburg's Primary School on Cemetery Road.

Plans for Alchester Academy include fifteen normal classrooms, five science classrooms, an IT suite, a music suite, four art rooms, a drama studio, student dining room, 'break-out area', main hall, sports hall and a kitchen.

There will also be 52 staff parking spaces, five visitors spaces and 72 bike spaces.

A consultation on the plans was held in October prior to the application being submitted, and 30 people responded.

One response read: "Good layout of building, excellent facilities, convenient location for local residents."

Many other comments praised the green space and another local said: "Like the idea of the library and dining area being in the ‘heart’ of the school. Also exciting to have a smaller secondary school."

Other commenters noted the close proximity to the A41 dual carriageway, noise disruption and one person wrote: "I do not feel parking facilities for drop-off and pick-up are large enough."

In response to that consultation, the county council has made a number of changes to plans including changes to the cladding on the sports hall and main hall to break up the appearance of the buildings with limited windows.

More plants have also been added to the boundary with nearby homes to create a more rural character for the school.

The council is now holding another public consultation for people to have their say on the submitted planning application.

The plans were submitted to Cherwell District Council for approval on January 23 and people have until February 15 to submit their comments.

Search on publicaccess.cherwell.gov.uk using application reference number 18/00154/OCC