AMBITIOUS plans for a Wickford secondary school to expand to meet the growing demand of pupil places could start in January.

Beauchamps High School, in Beauchamps Drive, should see construction workers on-site in the new year as a new building attached to the north-east wing may be built.

If approved, the addition, which will include classrooms, new toilets and storage from September 2024, will allow the school to cater for an additional 150 school places.

It comes as bosses at the school, which has 1,416 pupils on the roll, submitted a planning application to Basildon Council in July.

Carole Morris, Wickford North ward Conservative councillor, said: “It’s great news.

“It’s something we desperately need for the whole borough for there to be more secondary school places.

“Having lots more housing developments being approved, this means more people coming to the area who have or may wish to start a family, and they will eventually need somewhere to send their children.

“Also, people say where’s the infrastructure to cope with new housing developments, and this is an example of us catering for that with an extension to Beauchamps High School.

“I welcome this positive news, and I hope it will play a role in the school continuing to set their pupils up for life.”

As well as delivering infrastructure to support new homes and communities, the new buildings will help Beauchamps High School with its aim of achieving net-zero as it can generate renewable energy.

Documents have revealed the proposed work is set to cost more than expected, but a figure has not been disclosed by Essex County Council.

In a decision report published by Essex County Council, it said: “This proposal will allow the expansion of Beauchamps High School to be completed as part of the overall strategic response to meet the need for additional school places.

“The outcome of the strategic analysis indicated that expanding the school continues to represent good value for money to the Essex taxpayer.”