First glimpse of new Ercall Wood Technology College design

The new 900-place school will replace the current college in Wellington, which was built in the 1940s and is now too small to cope with the demand for places and teaching requirements.

The new building has been designed as part of Telford & Wrekin Council's Building Schools for the Future capital building programme, and will be the first school to be completely rebuilt in the second phase of the programme.

Guy Kershaw, who submitted the application on behalf of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "Built in the 1940s Ercall Wood Technology College, formerly known as Wellington Grammar School, was originally designed to accommodate approximately 300 students. While it was extended in the 1960s, much of the general teaching accommodation is provided in demountable classrooms.

"Learner numbers are now increasing significantly and the school buildings are no longer adequate. In particular this affects the classrooms which have become increasingly uncomfortable. There is also a lack of appropriate rooms for specialist subjects like art, music, maths and PE, and learners have no social environments to use in unstructured time.

"The current parking regime is particularly congested and no provision is available for parents to collect and drop-off at the site, leading to significant congestion on Golf Links Lane.

"The replacement buildings will provide additional sporting facilities and encourage community use and the site has been designed to relieve traffic congestion. If the application is approved, it is anticipated work will start on site early next year."

Outline planning consent for the project was granted in June and a contractor – Shepherd Construction Ltd – has been appointed for the work.

The new school will include a single three-storey block, with the existing humanities block retained to provide space for community activities. When the building is finished, the rest of the current school will be demolished.