A £38 million Government-funded scheme to rebuild Twickenham Academy and part-redevelop Hampton Academy has been given the green light by Richmond council.

Hampton Academy (formally Hampton Community College) will receive a £16 million redevelopment, paid for by Government, with improvements including the demolition and rebuild of a number of existing buildings and the upgrade of facilities such as car parking provision, cycle storage and landscaping.

In a £22 million redevelopment scheme, funded by Westminster, Twickenham Academy (formally Whitton School) will be totally demolished and a new state-of-the-art building with sports facilities will be rebuilt.

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Both academies are run by the Learning Schools Trust and are sponsored by Swedish company Kunskapsskolan.

Now planning permission has been granted, it is anticipated the work will begin on both sites this summer. The completion of both developments is due to be in 2013.

Cllr Paul Hodgins, Cabinet Member for Schools on Richmond Council, said: "I am very pleased that we can finally move forward with the plans to improve both of these academies.

"The transfer to academy status marked a fundamental change in how these schools are governed. Some of the current school buildings are old and in need of replacement and repair to ensure that they are fit for purpose. I am very glad that the Government agreed to continue funding the development."

(CD/KMcA)