A new primary school could soon be built in Wells as part of a multi-million pound housing development.
An application has been made to build a primary school and 160 homes on Wookey Hole Road, on land next to the former Thales site.
The Exeter-based developers, Strategic Land Partnerships, are looking to meet Mendip District Council's targets for home building as outlined in their future vision for the district, known as the Local Plan.
Simon Steele-Perkins, from Strategic Land Partnerships, said: "It's the council's plan we're responding too.
"The one thing that has been consistent is the need for growth beyond the existing city boundary."
The Local Plan is currently being reworked after the government inspector expressed concerns about the amount of land the Mendip had made available for development.
Mendip has previously stated that the plan is needed to give the council control over future development.
A potential stumbling block is that the plan had said that brownfield sites, such as Thales, Nutricia and the former Clares sites should be developed before green field sites such as this one.
However, Mr Steele-Perkins believes that they could enhance the ecology of the area.
He said: "The ecology of that particular piece of land is that it has been intensively farmed using pesticides. We're retaining the hedgerows. We can create new and enhanced areas of ecological interest."
The company has stated that there will be large areas of managed open space available for the community.
Mr Steele-Perkins also believes that the development will provide community benefits throughout Wells.
He said: "The school is one of these benefits. We would anticipate the local authority to require offsite infrastructure. That would be for the council to decide.
"There will be a raft of transportation measures which would be in a traffic plan."
The school was added to the development after Somerset County Council advised that one would be needed.
A county spokesman said: "We have indicated to Mendip District Council that a new school site would be needed to meet the planned expansion of Wells, within the preferred area of growth to the north and west of the city. However, its precise location has not yet been identified."
Do you think that Wells needs a new school? Is Wookey Hole Road the best site for such a large development? Send your views to Editor, Wells Journal, Southover, Wells, BA5 1UH or email editor@midsomnews.co.uk.
See letters page 28.