A Chelmsford school could become one of the best educational facilities in the region with a potential £5 million windfall -- if a developer's offer is accepted.

Parents of students at Hylands are being invited to discuss the offer made to the school governing body.

Pelham Homes has an option to build 300 homes on Green Belt farmland between Westlands estate and north of the school, but there is no route in without an agreement with the school.to cross its land.

The school has its own entrance cut through from Chelmsford Road, Writtle, and the developer is offering an immediate £25,000 for the school to give it an option to use that route as access to its potential project.

If planning permission comes at a later stage, the school is promised cash to the value of five acres of land at building value -- currently estimated at £5 million.

The project could be a long way off, however. Pelham earmarked the site for development in the consultation for the Chelmsford Borough Plan, but the council has not included the site in its final proposals, said a council spokeswoman.

It could be 2011 before the scheme is revived.

Head Terry Mulholland said: "Having looked in detail at the proposals, the governors are in favour of granting access.

"It should also be borne in mind that, even if the building does go ahead, it may be as long as 10 years before any building takes place."

The windfall, if it came, would be shared between the school and the education authority to plan the upgrading of teaching and learning facilities.

"In brief, we envisage that we shall be able to offer our students some of the best educational facilities in the country," said Mr Mulholland.

Parents have been invited to question Mr Mulholland and the governors at a meeting on March 19, at 7.30pm.

By Peter Baker

Reporter's e-mail: peter.baker@essex-chronicle.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.