The ground was broken, with the help of head girl Zara Pollard and deputy head boy Matthew Marren on the site of Unity College at Lower Towneley Playing Fields. Construction work is to start next month, with an expected opening date in September 2010.

Protests from residents and councillors stalled plans for the school, formerly Towneley High School, as they argued the land was a flood plain and would affect people living nearby. A public inquiry was held last August and the school was finally approved in January.

It is part of the £250m. Building Schools for the Future scheme, which will have replaced all of the borough's high schools by 2010.

Mr Nigel Sharphouse, project director for Bovis Lend Lease which is overseeing the building, said: "It is fantastic to get going after all the hold-ups. We were due to start last September, but the delays have meant we had to keep putting the start date back so it is great to see things finally starting.

"The first things we will do is put up fencing around the site and then over the summer a temporary bridge will be constructed over the river for all the construction traffic and then the real work will start by the end of August."

Originally due to be one of the first schools completed, Unity College is now part of Phase 2A, with Marsden Heights Community College in Brierfield, which will cost a combined £63m.