James Hornsby School is a step closer to having houses built on its playing fields.
The Evening Echo revealed last year that Essex County Council was considering selling the land and using the money to build new all-weather pitches for the school.
Developers have now submitted a planning application to Basildon Council to find out whether it agrees with the principle of building there.
A spokesman for Essex County Council said: "It looks like we are going to sell the land.
"The money we raise will be put back into the school and into other projects in the county."
The school supports the plans because it will actually get more land to use.
Deputy headteacher Andrew Hutchinson said: "We will give up an area of five acres, which is poorly shaped and not much good to us. But Essex County Council will bring back in the old Chowdhary site, the old primary school which has been left derelict.
"That is seven acres, so even though five acres will be developed, the school grounds will actually get larger by two acres."
Published Tuesday August 17, 2004
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