A NEW £10m school is set to go ahead at the Boulevard but only once traffic issues have been resolved.
The new education facility will be built on the old Boulevard rugby ground.
The 600-place secondary school will operate outside of local authority control and will be able to set its own curriculum.
Funding for the new school is coming directly from the Government.
Education consultant Carol White, the lead proposer behind the "free school" project, hopes the traffic management issue can be sorted as soon as possible so work can begin.
She said: "We are in discussions with the council's planning officers to thrash out the wording of the condition so we can be certain about starting the building work.
"Our contractors, BAM, need to start as soon as possible if we are to open up in time for the new school year in September.
"There has been wide support from residents for the school but we do understand the concerns about traffic access through Airlie Street.
"We want to ensure there is as little disruption as possible and we will encourage parents to use the drop-off points in Massey Street."
But Mrs White is delighted the plans have been approved.
She said: "We knew the plans were recommended for approval and we were optimistic but you never know.
"We need to start work in the first week of January to remain on schedule.
"The building will not be completed when the school opens.
"The capacity is 600 but we will begin with 120 Year 7 students when the building will be three quarters finished.
"But we hope to have it fully completed by December.
Residents living near the disused site have broadly welcomed the plans.
Gwen Hickson, 70, lives in nearby Carrington Street.
She said: "We have never had any complaints about this scheme and there seems to be a lot of support for it.
"We feel it's the best thing for the area and we need something to tidy it up a bit.
"The council has already started making the houses look nicer with new fronts.
"I'm pleased these plans have been approved and it's the best thing that's happened to us for years."
The school intends to base its teaching on an American system called Knowledge Is Power.
The new school will be run by an independent trust.
