WORK is set to start this month on a new multi-million pound technology college after it was given the seal of approval by the Government.

The Bicester Technology Studio, planned for Queen’s Avenue, was given approval by the National Planning Casework Unit.

The national planning body was called in to consider the plans after Sport England objected to the loss of existing playing fields, as the development would take land from neighbouring Bicester Community School.

It comes as prospective students and parents get a chance today to see what the school has to offer, in the first of two open days this month.

Activate Learning, which runs City of Oxford College and is behind the new studio, said an Oxfordshire County Council assessment found the amount of land was sufficient for the number of pupils at both schools.

Lee Nicholls, executive director for Activate Learning, which is the school’s lead sponsor, said: “We are now full steam ahead to open Bicester Technology Studio in September 2016.

“Construction work will begin as planned and we are looking forward to meeting potential students and their parents at our taster events this month.”

Following approval from both Cherwell District Council and the National Planning Casework Unit, the £4m technology college is now taking applications ahead of the September 2016 start date.

The school will take about 310 pupils aged between 14 and 19, who will study a curriculum focusing on sustainable technology and building methods.

Activate Learning plans initially to take on 40 students in Year 10 and 70 in Year 12.

Contractors have been appointed and a new principal was announced in June – Richard Brown, director of the Langley Academy in Slough.

It is hoped that, as Bicester’s population grows under planned development, children will be able to learn the technology and building skills that will be needed.

Developments in the pipeline include the 6,000-home eco-town and 1,900 self-build homes due to be built at Graven Hill just outside the town.

Many different companies working in Bicester support the idea, including eco-town lead developers A2Dominion, Brita, Chiltern Railways, RED Engineering, Zeta Specialist Lighting, Bioregional and Wilmott Dixon.

Today’s taster session for students and parents to learn more about the school, and the second one next Wednesday, are being held at the John Paul II Centre in The Causeway, from 6pm to 8pm.