Former school playing fields could be sold off by council bosses to make way for homes - if the government rubber stamps the move.

Norfolk County Council is seeking permission from education secretary Gillian Keegan to dispose of the playing fields at the former Dersingham Infant and Nursery School site in west Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press: The former Dersingham Infant SchoolThe former Dersingham Infant School (Image: Matthew Usher)

The infant and nursery school, in Saxon Way, formally closed in 2013 when the school merged with Dersingham Junior School to form Dersingham VA Primary and Nursery School at Admiral's Way.

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The Saxon Way site was used as a satellite site, until the primary school's governors decided to shut it at the end of December last year.

Eastern Daily Press: New homes could be built on the playing field at DersinghamNew homes could be built on the playing field at Dersingham (Image: Google Maps)

Because the school had fewer pupils, they could all be accommodated at the Admiral's Drive site, so the satellite site was no longer needed.

At a meeting of the council's cabinet in the summer, members agreed to sell the council-owned fields either on the open market or at auction.

Eastern Daily Press: Education secretary Gillian KeeganEducation secretary Gillian Keegan (Image: Press Association)

But before that can happen, education secretary Ms Keegan needs to grant permission for the loss of the playing fields - and public consultation, running until October 20, has been launched.

The county council said: "Norfolk County Council, with Diocese of Norwich, who own the school building, are anticipating that the whole site, including the playing fields, will be disposed of for some form of residential development, although there are no identified proposals for the site at present.

"Any residential development proposal would be subject to a full planning submission
to the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, which would involve
consultation with the public.

"It should be reiterated that this current consultation covers only the playing field elements of the site and that there is a separate process to dispose of the school buildings with the secretary of state, which is not part of this consultation."