A £7.5 million revamp of a Colchester school could be paid for by selling land for housing.

Outline plans for the ambitious upgrade of the Stanway School were revealed today (Thursday) in a project providing facilities which pupils and the community have been "crying out for".

A new teaching block, modern community sports facilities, community arts facilities and a larger library are included in the outline planning application released today by Ian Carrington, headteacher of the school, in Winstree Road, Colchester.

The school is to fund the project by the redevelopment of a 17-acre piece of land it owns on the opposite side of the road - which with planning permission would have an estimated value of £7.5 million.

Mr Carrington said the vision was of a "real community school" whose facilities would bring "major benefits" to Stanway.

He said to upgrade existing buildings would have cost £2 million - money the school does not have. Under this scheme some school buildings would be demolished.

The school has teamed up with Persimmon Homes. The joint outline planning application will be submitted to Colchester Council next week.

Persimmon has funded the application and would have first option on the land.

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