TENDERS for the building of a new John Hunt of Everest school in Basingstoke are expected to be invited in the autumn.

Work is expected to start on the site in May or June next year with completion due in December 2006.

It is estimated the total cost of the scheme, including school, community and youth provision, will be around £18.6million.

The plans are set to move a step closer tomorrow, when Hampshire County Council's buildings, land and procurement panel will be asked to approve a project appraisal for the school, which will replace the existing facility as part of the development of North Popley.

The school will have a capacity for 750 pupils, with the building allowing this to be extended to 900.

It will be located within the area of the neighbourhood centre, which will provide the main focus for the entire development.

At present, the proposed site is on farmland, located to the west and east of Sherborne Road, and there will be an application to close the road in order to prevent it bisecting the school.

Members of the panel will tomorrow be told the relocated school will provide a major opportunity to provide modern teaching facilities and enhanced sport and community facilities.

The new building will provide 40 classrooms, a science/technology wing, a languages wing and a maths/humanities wing. There will also be a sports hall, badminton courts and a floodlit pitch.

Funding will come from the sale of the existing school site, a developer contribution, Basingstoke council and the county council.