Three long-awaited school regeneration projects in Stevenage were given the go-ahead today (Tuesday).

Plans to remodel and expand Nobel School and knock down and rebuild Marriotts and Lonsdale schools were given the green light this afternoon by Herts County Council.

Councillors gave planning permission for Marriotts Secondary School on Telford Avenue to be combined with nearby Lonsdale special school in new buildings, while other works will include a new sports hall, a floodlit all-weather pitch and a new access road from Brittain Way.

Nobel Secondary School’s main building will be remodelled and other school buildings demolished to make room for new ones of up to four storeys.

The plans also include a floodlit all-weather pitch, a new car park and pupil pick up and drop off area. Stevenage Music School, currently based at The Valley School in the town, will also be incorporated.

Richard Thake, executive member for education and skills at County Hall, said the Lonsdale and Marriotts scheme was “a marriage made in heaven”, while the Nobel and Stevenage Music schools project “will be a great improvement to the facilities for education and learning within the borough”.