A DEAL to sell the former Homefield School at Winkton could soon be clinched amid rumours that the site is to be redeveloped for housing.

Receiver Roland Morgan who has been handling the Homefield affairs since the school crashed with debts of £1 million in January said negotiations were well advanced with a potential buyer.

He said an announcement could be made within a few weeks pending resolution of legal matters, but declined to reveal the name or nature of the concern involved.

The spectre of development has been hanging over Homefield and its 22-acres of grounds since it went on the market in February when a rescue package mounted by the Park School in Bournemouth failed to secure the necessary funding.

Meanwhile, former Homefield staff summoned to retrieve their personal property from the school have been told the main building - originally a Georgian mansion house - is earmarked for conversion into flats and mock-Tudor executive homes could be built on the rest of the Salisbury Road campus.

But Christchurch council planning officials say they are unaware of any proposals for the Homefield site where development is restricted by both green belt and conservation area status.

Principal planning officer David Williams said his office had received a large number of informal inquiries from potential new owners when the site first became available, but no formal plans had been submitted.

"We have not heard of any new interest in the site. It would be interesting to see what form this residential proposal might take," he said.

The site has been used as a school since 1947.

Mr Williams said council policy aimed to retain educational or community use, and if it was shown to be redundant for that purpose an alternative use and possible conversion of existing buildings could be considered.

First published: September 1, 2005