GSS architect David Allsop and Headmistress Julia Burns show how the new buildings will look.

Construction is expected to start in the summer on a state-of-the-art suite of classrooms and laboratories at Leicester High School for Girls in London Road, Leicester. The new two-story building will provide a range of teaching facilities for the sciences and ICT. Some outdated facilities will be demolished to make way for it.

Following consultation with parents and local residents, planning permission for the multi-million pound project was granted by Leicester City Council's Planning Committee on 18 March.

Headmistress Julia Burns said, "We are delighted to have been given the go-ahead on what is a challenging site. Our architects, GSS, have come up with an impressive solution that will enable the school to continue to provide our students with the highest quality education."

GSS partner David Allsop explained, "The project will provide five new classrooms, an art suite and a new reception and display area on the ground floor, while on the first floor there will be six laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology, plus a language laboratory."

"The new building will be constructed with sustainability in mind," said David. "The green roof will have slow-growing sedum plants, while the sides of the building will be partially clad with cedar. It will be naturally ventilated wherever possible, with good natural lighting. There will be two new courtyards, while a covered walkway will be lit by solar power. At the front of the school the elevation of the new building has been sympathetically designed to match the exterior of the existing main building. Behind these buildings the school's pond will be repositioned to provide a useful and practical outside laboratory for biology."