EXCITING plans for the replacement Queen Elizabeth's School, Wimborne, look set to clear the first hurdle next week.

East Dorset councillors are on Tuesday being recommended to support outline proposals for the £25 million project, which will accommodate 1,500 students and more than 200 staff.

Members will hear the new school would be built on the current rugby pitch which lies in the green belt, while the existing buildings would become "teaching gardens" and social spaces.

Replacement and improved grass playing pitches are also planned.

Applicant Dorset County Council will argue there are "special circumstances" for allowing green belt development.

Mike Hirsh, head of planning at East Dorset District Council, said: "It will enable the school to continue uninterrupted while most of the building works take place and the need for expensive temporary classrooms and service buildings will be reduced to a minimum."

Mr Hirsh said there were no opportunities to expand the existing school and studies showed there were no other sites in the area and within the existing catchment area to accommodate a school of this size.

Under the proposals, school bus access would be retained at the main car park at the front of the school.

The existing leisure centre would remain and a new car park for the centre would be created with an access from The Broads.

Earlier this year Queen Elizabeth's was chosen as Dorset's Building Schools for the Future One-School Pathfinder after being rated the secondary school most in need of replacement.

The scheme will go before county council planners and, if approved, the new school is expected to be completed by 2008.