PARENTS and ecologists were disappointed after plans to build housing on the site of Milham Ford School, Oxford, were agreed.

The grounds of the school in Harberton Mead, Marston, contain rare orchids and insect life and parents were hoping another school could use the 4.8 acre site.

But members of the city council's north east area committee decided on Tuesday, May 21, to give Oxfordshire County Council outline planning permission for housing, subject to an agreement that 30 per cent of the homes would used for social housing.

A developer would also have to give £115,000 for traffic safety measures in Marston Road, Headley Way and Jack Straw's Lane, and a further £240,000 towards primary and secondary school education.

A second application for a sports pitch and ecology park, with ponds and footpaths, on the school playing fields was also given planning permission.

Marilyn Cox, a member of the Jack Straw's Lane Residents' Association, said the density of housing on the plans was too high and the development would lead to congestion on surrounding streets.

She added: "We strongly want the site retained for educational purposes."

Judy Webb, a biology teacher at Milham Ford School and member of the New Marston Wildlife Group, has undertaken a wildlife assessment of the school grounds.

She said: "The site has not been affected by agriculture and has botanically-rich grassland with four types of nationally-important orchids and many rare insects.

"There could be damage at the borders of the fields and I don't believe dense housing development of this kind will not affect the whole area."

The county council hopes to raise about £10m from the sale of the site to help finance the £35m cost of introducing two-tier education in Oxford..

Milham Ford School will share the premises of Oxford School, in Glanville Road, east Oxford.

A spokesman for the county's agents, W S Atkins, said: "The application proposes to retain the main school building, preserve the ecologically sensitive areas, and finance a recreation/ecology park for the local community.

"It will provide much-needed affordable housing for local people, and when it is sold the money will be re-invested in Oxford schools."