THE biggest building project in a historic college’s 170-year history has been granted planning permission.

Brighton College’s project for a £40 million sports and science building was approved at a council meeting this afternoon.

The three-storey building with a basement swimming pool and roof-top running track has been designed by renowned international architects OMA.

A 1970s sports hall, classroom block, ancillary maintenance building and two-storey pavilion along the Sutherland Road boundary will all make way for the new building.

Officers of Brighton and Hove City Council had previously praised the “well-designed addition” to the area, though some councillors and residents were not as sure.

One resident at the meeting said the private school was “turning away from the local community” while Councillor Lee Wares suggested the roof-top activities could cause noise disturbance.

The application was granted, with a condition added by councillors that roof-top activities take place only between 8am and 8pm seven days a week.

This latest development represents the final part of Brighton College’s masterplan but would not see an increase in the number of students.

Work on the project could begin as soon as next July, with construction scheduled to last up to two years.

Last year a £10 million development for a classroom block was voted down by councillors because of an elm tree but the decision was reversed on appeal by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate.