PLANNING applications have been lodged for two new £25million school buildings.

Witham’s two academies will undergo total changes with work due to start early in the new year if planning consent is granted.

The £50million investment will include at least £17million for the town’s economy, as the Academies Enterprise Trust, which runs the two academies, has pledged that a third of the money will be spent on local goods and services.

Planning applications for Maltings Academy and New Rickstones Academy, both in Witham, have been lodged with Braintree Council.

Jonathan Gillard, principal of New Rickstones Academy, said: “We are all so pleased the next stage of our journey towards a brand new building for has been completed successfully.

“Quite apart from the excellent professionals who have helped us, we are keen to recognise the creative ideas and inputs from our own students, parents and members of the community.”

Both academies are aiming for new three-storey developments with 104 parking spaces and 160 cycle spaces and landscaping.

Maltings Academy wants permission for a multi-use games area and reorganisation of its playing fields, while New Rickstones Academy wants temporary access from Rickstones Road during construction.

Mike Barnett, publicity consultant for the academies, said a number of changes have been made to the original plans after suggestions from parents and the public during a consultation in June.

“The New Rickstones Academy plan has been updated to reduce the impact on local homes,” he said.

“There are two bungalows next to the school along Rickstones Road and what we’ve done is reduce the immediate height of the new building and the area of the new build.”

If the academies get the go ahead, they will be built on open fields next to the current schools under a requirement that construction generates minimal disturbance.

The aim is to have them both built by September 2011.

Braintree Council will make a decision on the proposals next month.