A WATERSIDE school is hoping council chiefs will back its revised plans for a £2m sports hall.

The building will become the latest improvement to Hardley School in Holbury after an impressive suite of three drama studios opened six years ago.

The sports hall is part of an ongoing programme to enhance sport facilities by Hampshire County Council, which has provided £1.7m of the cash.

At present the school lacks sufficient indoor sports facilities for its 1,000 pupils and had to close its old outdoor swimming pool several years ago.

The new steel-framed building will stand-alone and have changing rooms, showers, toilets, offices, a study room and storage.

A covered walkway will provide access the existing gym from the new sports hall changing area.

The new hall will free-up the use of the school's existing gym.

Planning consent for the hall was given in February. But the plans have been resubmitted after the roof design was changed from a parabola to an apex, largely to save cash.

Building work on the site is likely to start in August and be completed by April.

The sports hall will not be available to the community, and there will be no additional parking.

Letters have gone out to nearby residents and the parish council asking for comments.