An urgent £38m school development faces even more delays.

The Stanley Park High School redevelopment will not open until September 2011 at the earliest after lengthy discussions to purchase land.

The school – set to create 30 extra school places a year – was originally scheduled to open in September 2010. The opening date was then put back to January 2011.

Now Sutton Council has admitted even a September 2011 completion date is not guaranteed.

The council has undergone months of discussions with NHS Sutton and Merton to purchase land at the Orchard Hill site. A sale is almost complete, however work cannot begin until land for an access road has been acquired from Benhill Gospel Trust through a compulsory purchase order.

This process will not begin for at least several months and could go to the High Court if an agreement cannot be reached.

There is already pressure on school places for Sutton children as pupils from outside the borough continue to take up places.

When the new school does open it will have places for 91 children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) as well as a 350-place sixth form.

Executive member for children, young people and learning Services Coun Tony Brett Young said: “We are currently in discussions with the NHS Sutton and Merton to finalise the land purchase for the new school.

“The compulsory purchase order to secure land for an access road was submitted in September 2009 and the inquiry will take place in a few months time.

“We are focussing on a September 2011 completion, but as this may be affected by the CPO, we are working hard to keep things moving. This process has had a cost implication but these have been managed within the existing budget.

“We remain committed to building a world-class sustainable school for local children and creating additional facilities for children with special educational needs.”