Copeland planners are being recommended to support proposals for a £30 million education campus in Whitehaven.

The major plans would see a purpose-built campus for St Benedict's School and Mayfield School on one site.

There are also plans for sports pitches, facilities, car parking and landscaping on the site, at St Benedict’s School, as well as new access onto Moresby Road and Red Lonning.

Copeland Council planners are being recommended to support the proposals at a meeting next Wednesday.

The plans, submitted by Cumbria County Council, would see the two schools in two separate blocks and would be linked by a central block which would accommodate the sports hall, the dining area for St Benedict's and facilities for Mayfield School including a hydrotherapy pool.

A report which is set to be presented to councillors states: "The schools have different functional requirements and the proposal seeks to meet these needs whist integrating the facilities within a joint campus.

"Overall this scheme is welcome. The proposed design and layout will result in a modern school development with associated facilities to ensure a high quality learning environment for students at both schools and would also provide opportunities for the wider community particularly related to enhanced sports facilities."

"Any detrimental impacts can be mitigated and the improvements to the access and parking provision within the site will result in significant improvements which will help to alleviate the current traffic congestion and on street parking issues on Red Lonning."

The proposed layout has been influenced by the need to keep the existing St Benedict's School during construction. Once the new-build is up and running, there are proposals to demolish the former St Benedict's school buildings.

The unprecedented £30m investment in the campus comes from a range of partners including The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd, Copeland Council, Copeland Community Fund and Cumbria County Council.

The county council is the planning authority and its development, control and regulation committee is set to consider the proposals at a meeting next month. Wates Construction has been appointed to design and build the new facility.