Bulldozers will roll in early next year to start work on a multi-million-pound campus for one of the biggest schools in Mid Sussex.

Construction of St Paul's Catholic College is expected to take around 18 months with the school time-tabled to open in September 2004.

The 800-pupil school has outgrown its Sixties campus in Haywards Heath and the new college is being built on farmland opposite The Triangle Leisure Centre in Jane Murray Way, Burgess Hill.

Students have contributed their own ideas for the new college, including the latest computer equipment.

There will be specialist teaching and learning facilities as well as a sixth form centre, sports hall, drama studio and extensive playing fields.

Alternative energy sources are to be used, including a wind farm generating electricity for the lights.

The development is being carried out jointly by West Sussex County Council and the governors of the college.

Headteacher John Flower said: "I'm absolutely delighted that we will be moving to a state-of-the-art school which will provide for future generations of pupils.

"St Paul's is a high-performing college, thanks to the excellent teaching and highly motivated students we have.

"The wonderful new facilities will enable us to advance teaching and learning to an even higher level."

A subway was constructed when the Triangle opened in 1999 to allow students safe access.

Sally Greenwell, cabinet member for education and the arts at the county council, said: "It is good news that all the key elements of this project have now come together to enable St Paul's to move to a superb 30-acre site."

The cost of the project will be funded partly by the sale of the Haywards Heath site and partly from a Government grant. The present site is owned by West Sussex County Council and the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, who are both involved in the project.

A spokesman for Burgess Hill Town Council said: "The council's preference was for a state secondary school.

"There were a number of concerns in terms of design and the traffic generation which were made as part of the planning application.

"One need was to ensure a design that gave a positive first impression for people coming into Burgess Hill from the A23."