Controversial plans to build a new sports hall and all-weather pitch at a Sussex secondary school were approved last night.

Mid Sussex District Council gave the green light to the scheme at Oathall Community College, Haywards Heath, despite more than 150 letters of objection.

The college's sports provision was criticised in a recent Ofsted report and supporters say the new development, which could cost a six-figure sum, will help to rectify this.

The scheme will see a second multi-purpose hall built as well as an artificial turf pitch and around 60 parking spaces.

Earlier plans incorporating floodlighting were rejected because of the effect on nearby properties.

But the new application still drew 157 individual letters of objection, including one from the Ramblers Association.

Among the issues raised were that noise from the the sports hall would disturb residents and a nearby nature reserve, construction would cause a nuisance, and there could be a lowering of property values.

But council chairman Christopher Hersey said he thought the council had struck the right balance between what was needed for the school and the implications for neighbouring homes.

The artificial pitch will only be used from 9am to 6pm Mondays to Fridays and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. It will be out of action on Sundays and Bank Holidays and its use will be curtailed further during winter in line with the lighting-up times.

Mr Hersey said: "I think a lot of residents will be relieved. Some might feel they are not able to sit out in their gardens on Saturdays, though.

"They accept they have to have facilities for the children and I am confident we have chosen the right balance between providing for the school and the effect on the environment."

Work on the scheme is likely to start once financing has been secured.

A spokesman for the board of governors said: "Oathall Community College has an excellent record of education achievement and was described as outstanding in the Ofsted inspection.

"However, the Ofsted inspector reported that the sports facilities are inadequate and a second sports hall is essential to deliver the curriculum.

"The one sports hall we have was built over 30 years ago for a college with less than 600 pupils and we now have 1,400 pupils."