THE site of a former school for children with special educational needs is set to be sold off.

Essex County Council is consulting on plans to sell the former premises of Lexden Springs School, in Halstead Road, Colchester.

At the start of the academic year, Lexden Springs School relocated to a new, purpose-built facility on the former Heath School site, in Winstree Road, Stanway.

The £19 million project meant the school was able to increase capacity from 120 to 200 pupils and add boarding capacity for some students.

However, now County Hall is looking to sell its former home and re-invest the cash into other education projects.

Approval from the Secretary of State for Education will be required to dispose of the playing field section of the site.

A spokesman for County Hall said: “Essex County Council are seeking the necessary statutory consents from the Department for Education which enables the site to be released from education use following the relocation of the previous school to a brand new purpose built facility.

“In the event the Department for Education releases the site, the department can direct how any monies will be spent and it is anticipated any funds released would be re-invested in education.

“At present no decision on future use of the site has been made.”

The expansion of Lexden Springs School formed part of Essex County Council’s plans to spend up to £115 million on special educational needs places across Essex.

More than 400 school and boarding places have been delivered on behalf of the council across the county.

The investment, which includes £42 million from the Essex Schools Forum, comes after an increase in the number of children in the county being diagnosed with autism and a surge in the demand for special needs school places.

The consultation on plans to dispose of Lexden Springs former school site runs until Monday, February 24.

All responses should be submitted in writing by emailing becky.allum@mitie.com or by post to EUG Zone 3, County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH.

For more information about the proposals, visit bit.ly/2FP0aFO.