THE slowdown of work on the QE School site outside Wimborne has been caused by recent changes in building regulations, officials have said.

But they believe that work is still on target for doors to one of the country's greenest schools to open by autumn 2009.

County councillors heard were updated on the scheme's progress at a meeting behind closed doors last Wednesday.

Utility services such as gas and water have already been installed, along with a sub-station and drainage facilities.

But the work to create the new teaching blocks and installing tubes to pre-cool or pre-heat air before it enters the building, instead of using gas central heating or air conditioning, is among works delayed.

County officials said they hope to start this work in mid-July. Construction will incorporate woodchip burning boilers, solar and wind power, rail water recycling, recycled building materials and low energy usage.

The school's new "sustainability educational centre" will provide courses, teacher training and resources to QE and the surrounding schools.

Carl Isgar, programmes and facilities manager for Dorset County Council, said: "The current slowdown in progress on the QE project is due to recent changes to the process for obtaining building regulation approval.

"Following a recent review of the partnering arrangements between Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council's building control department, a number of improvements have been introduced to ensure the application and checking process is more robust.

"As a result, all applications for building regulation approval now have to be supported by more information than in the past and, crucially, are required to include a detailed structural design overview of the scheme concerned.

"This situation has impacted on all current county council projects, including the QE project and in particular its Sustainability Centre.

"In the meantime some personnel have been temporarily withdrawn by the contractor."