THE green light has been given for work to begin this week on a new �18million state-of-the-art academy building.

The work to start on Felixstowe Academy, which will cater for hundreds of students, is able to get under way after Suffolk County Council completed the necessary land registration and legal contracts with building contractors Balfour Beatty.

Headteacher Andrew Salter said: “This is such great news for us all. The wait has been long but meeting with the building contractors actually on site has really put all the preparation work into context. “We are all so excited to see our ideas, currently on paper, starting to become a reality. Our students and staff deserve this new resource.

“The new build will be the vehicle that truly brings us together as one academy under one roof.”

Stephen Chamberlain, regional director of education for Academies Enterprise Trust, which runs Felixstowe Academy, added: “Staff and students have already made tremendous strides in raising standards and moving to become a single academy but the new building will allow us to provide a truly world class education for the young people of Felixstowe and the local economy.” The building will house a science lab, indoor and outdoor sports facilities as well as specialist art, photography, graphics, technology and music facilities.

It will also be energy efficient incorporating biomass boilers, solar panels and water recycling.

Graham Newman, cabinet member for education and young people, said: “Very soon indeed, young people in Felixstowe will have a new, state-of-the-art, academy right on their doorsteps.

“The new building will make a significant contribution to the educational opportunities already on offer in the town and will, no doubt, attract students from across Suffolk.”

The building will also help improve transport links with the creation of new footpaths and cycle paths.

John Goodwin, county councillor for Felixstowe North and Trimley, said: “This is very good news for future generations of our area’s children, good news for Suffolk and good news for employees looking for students from a top rate school.

“The new academy will stop our young people having to move between sites and give them a better chance of getting the education that all young people deserve.”

The construction is expected to be completed by Easter 2014.