Part of a former Chelmsford comprehensive is set to be transformed into two new special needs schools, under plans revealed by Essex County Council.

The county council has been working closely with Chelmsford City Council planning officers over the future of the former St Peter’s site,  for educational needs and housing.

Approximately 2.5 hectares of land at the former St Peters School in Fox Crescent is to be set aside for two new free special schools, leaving the remainder of the 17 hectare plot for comprehensive residential development.

The council’s development company Essex Housing is currently progressing with a business case for development of this residual area as an alternative option to an open market sale.

The special schools  – one school providing 70 places for children aged seven to 16 with autism and another providing 64 places for children with social, emotional and mental health needs – will be paid directly by the Department for Education, that has already agreed to the funding.

In addition, base revenue funding per pupil will be paid by the DfE.

The council will construct both schools and it is proposed that the new ASC special school be run by an academy trust, the occupiers of the adjacent Thriftwood College site, to the east.

Construction is expected to start once planning and procurement processes have been completed and it is currently anticipated that both schools, known as Fox and Hawthorn, will open in September 2021 under a 125 year lease to the academy sponsor.

A report to the cabinet states: “Schools require significant site areas and can be difficult to acquire within existing urban areas.

“The reuse of former educational land for two new schools is thus strategically sound and removes the need for the council to identify new capital funding for the acquisition of new school sites.

“The enhanced SEND provision in Essex contributes to a number of the council’s strategies: to increase educational achievement and enhance skills; to improve public health and wellbeing across Essex and safeguard vulnerable people of all ages.

“The provision of specialist education provision within Essex will reduce the travelling time for vulnerable young people and contribute to reducing congestion on the roads.”

The remainder of the site is also being considered for as many as 163 homes – with taxpayers bankrolling the initial stages of the multi-million pound development.

Essex County Council has agreed to invest initially more than £2.5million to facilitate the housing scheme on the site which is less than one mile from Chelmsford city centre.

It is in a predominantly suburban residential area and consists of the former secondary school buildings which are in a poor state of repair, parking, play areas and playing fields, which have been largely untouched since the school closed in 2011.

An application for housing is expected to be submitted between April and July 2019.

The school plans are set for cabinet member agreement subject to call in.