BOLTON School is to press ahead with plans for a £7 million state-ofthe- art sixth-firm college inspired by Oxbridge.

The innovative eye-shaped building is the result of four years of detailed planning by school bosses.

Work is set to start in summer 2012 and finish the following summer after being given the green light by planning chiefs at Bolton Council.

Like academic facilities at the world-renowned Oxford and Cambridge universities, the glass-fronted sixth-form will be at the centre of the school’s courtyard, off Chorley New Road.

Project bosses said they think the new building will inspire students to fulfil their potential and provide a striking centrepiece for visitors.

“The quality of design can ultimately lead to pupils aspiring to achieve the best they can and to discover their talents,” said Lawrence McBurney, of Cassidy and Ashton architects.

He added: “The new development should be seen as a building to draw and encourage pupils to continue their education at the school, culminating in a sixth form that is interesting, inspiring and fulfilling.”

Up to 400 students will be able to use the open-plan corridorless facility at any one time.

A horizontal walkway will link the new three-storey building with the existing building.

A 54-space car park in the centre of the quadrant will be moved to Tudor Avenue and the vast majority of vehicles will be banned from accessing the area near the new sixth-form.

Ten per cent of all the building materials used will have been recycled.

A school spokesman described the new feature as “a pedestrianised Oxford and Cambridge-style quadrant”.

Two neighbours, one from Somerset Road and the other from Shrewsbury Road, objected to the proposal on the grounds that there are parking problems around the school.

But the council’s planning committee said the new building would not add to parking problems as it will be set in a pedestrianised area.