THE CONTROVERSIAL Darwen academy is on course to become the most expensive school of its type ever built.

The final cost of the project, originally put at £34million, is now nearer £49million, according to a leaked borough council document.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families reveals that only two other academies, which are opening in September, have come close to this sum, with The Bridge Academy in London costing about £47million and the Thomas Deacon Academy, Peterborough, about £46million.

Site acquisition of the Redearth Triangle is largely to blame for sending the Darwen cost spiralling.

The council will borrow £7.7million to pay the bill and the regional development agency has given some funds, council chiefs said.

Coun Simon Huggill, who has led protests against building the academy to replace Moorland High School at the Redearth site, said he estimated the final cost at about £55million.

He said: "The £49million doesn't include the cost of the public inquiry, highway alterations and the officers' time spent on this."

Adrian Walker, 35, of Redearth Street, said: "It's the biggest waste of money Darwen has ever seen."

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the council, said: "That's a lot of money but we have also got to look at what we are going to get.

"If it's an expensive school, then so be it."

The average cost of the 27 academies already built is £25.2million.

Academies are publicly funded independent schools providing a free education to local pupils of all abilities and are usually located in disadvantaged areas.

They are established by sponsors, faith or voluntary groups working in partnership with central government and local authorities.

The sponsor of the Darwen academy is the boss of former public-private partnership firm Capita, Rod Aldridge, who is contributing £2million.