A MAJOR development of up to 765 homes is set to provide two brand new schools for Hedge End, the Daily Echo can reveal.

A new primary school had always been part of the huge new development of 69 acres of land at Dowds Farm.

Now it has emerged that the scheme will see Kings Copse Primary School bulldozed and rebuilt on a different part of its existing site.

The move guarantees the long-term future for all existing primary, infant and junior schools in the Hedge End, Botley and West End areas.

Kings Copse, which has one of the largest sites of any Hampshire primary school, had been under threat because of falling pupil numbers.

Now negotiations are under way to sell off some of the site for housing and rebuild a smaller school on another part of the site.

Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council have also worked together to produce a package that would see a brand new 210-place school at Dowds Farm.

Chairman of governors at Kings Copse, Kim Day, said: "Our overriding aim is to confirm the long-term future of the school. We felt extremely vulnerable and we are extremely pleased that there are some exciting opportunities."

Eastleigh Council leader Keith House added: "The strategy had provided an opportunity to give King's Copse a new future with new equipment and new buildings.

"When we look at a package which gives the opportunity to remove temporary classrooms, guarantees the future of all the schools in the area, creates two brand new schools, makes sure more children can go to a school closer to where they live, it is a no-brainer."