A scheme to convert Milham Ford School in Oxford into a housing development is being recommended for approval on Tuesday, May 21.

This summer, the city's only state girls' school will leave its premises in Harberton Mead, Marston, to share Oxford School's site in east Oxford.

Oxfordshire County Council is hoping to sell the 4.8-acre site to help pay part of the £35m bill of introducing a new two-tier education system in 2003.

Tonight, at the city council's north east area committee, officers are recommending that members approve an outline planning application -- put forward by the county council -- to convert the school into 34 houses and 75 flats with 138 parking spaces.

Planning permission would be subject to a legal agreement stating the developer should provide 30 per cent of the homes for social housing and give money for education and traffic safety measures.

The county council is hoping to find a firm to develop the site once it gets planning permission.

Tony Crabbe, the executive member for schools, admitted the stipulation that 30 per cent of the flats should be social housing would make the site less attractive to potential developers. But he added: "We need to get an indication as to what the capital receipt could be, and once planning permission is in place, bids should come in."

The main school quadrangle would be retained, according to the application. A second application is being submitted to change the use of the playing fields into a public space, including an ecology park, sports pitch, pavilion, ponds and footpaths, including pedestrian access to Marston Road.

Once again, councillors are being asked to defer approving planning permission until the completion of an agreement which secures a financial contribution towards the upkeep of the park.

The Catholic Diocese last year expressed an interest in locating the new St Gregory the Great Catholic School at the site, but planning approval for new homes could make a housing development the more attractive option for the county council when it comes to sell the site.

No-one from the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, which covers Oxford, was available for comment.