A 2,000-YEAR-OLD Roman circus site could scupper plans for a new primary school, it has emerged.

An initial planning application, called a screening opinion, was submitted to Colchester Council for the proposed academy on land off Circular Road East, Colchester.

The site was previously home to the Arena leisure centre which closed at short notice in 2015 after operators ABAC Leisure said it would not be renewing the lease as it was no longer a sustainable business. The site has been derelict and boarded up since.

A full planning application will still need to be submitted to Colchester Council.

READ MORE: Plans revealed for ANOTHER primary school in Colchester

But it has warned there could be complications due to the history of the surrounding area.

A spokesman said: “The next step will be the submission of a planning application for the development.

“The key issue in this location is the impact of any development on the scheduled ancient monument of the Roman Circus.

“This will need to be carefully considered in terms of direct and indirect impacts on the monument.”

Colchester’s unique Roman circus was discovered in 2004 by Colchester Archaeological Trust when it was excavating the former Garrison site, which was being developed for housing.

The remains of the chariot racing circus, the only one of its kind found in northern Europe, are now a scheduled ancient monument.

It is about a quarter of a mile from the proposed school site.

Parties involved in the school project are the Reach2 Academy Trust and the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

The Reach2 Academy Trust runs Camulos and Unity schools in Colchester and Burrsville, Kirby and Sir Martin Frobisher Academy in Tendring.

It has been in discussions with the Department for Education for a new Reach2 primary school in Colchester based on the council’s projections there is a need for new school places in the area.

A spokesman said: “It’s right there is full and detailed planning process to go through with any new school.

"We will continue to provide the council and the Department for Education with any information they need throughout the process to inform their decision making.”

Hundreds of new homes have been built around the surrounding Garrison area in recent years, adding to the need for more school places in Colchester.

The new school would also be close to St John’s Green Primary School’s two campuses, at Abbey Fields and St John’s Green.

The Abbey Field site had two extra classrooms added just last year to create 60 more spaces.

Essex County Council says 2,430 more school places are needed in Colchester over the next seven years.

In addition to expansion projects at five primary schools in Colchester last summer, the council is planning to create more than 1,000 other school places in the area in the coming years.