A new school for up to 1,450 students in Crawley has been given the go-ahead.

Outline permission was granted for the school in Maidenbower, part of a £60 million scheme for three new schools in the town backed by private sector cash.

West Sussex County Council planners also supported proposals to rebuild Thomas Bennett and Ifield community colleges.

However, these schemes have to be referred to the office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott because they involve a departure from local development plans.

The proposals also involve rebuilding Desmond Anderson Primary School on the Thomas Bennett site in Tilgate.

Three companies have been shortlisted for the schools contract under the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

A bidder will be chosen by March and the contract should be signed by June.

The first PFI school is due to be completed by September 2004, coinciding with the decision to alter the age at which Crawley pupils transfer to secondary school from 12 to 11.

Councillor Sally Greenwell, West Sussex County Council Cabinet member for education and the arts, said: "Everyone connected with this PFI initiative is committed to making this a flagship project."

The three shortlisted companies are Balfour Beatty, HBG Projects and the Pyramid Consortium, which all have experience in school design and delivering PFI projects in other parts of the country.

The chosen company will lease the sites for a minimum of 25 years and be responsible for day-to-day management and maintenance of the facilities.

Management of the schools will return to the county council at the end of the contract.