School leaders remain confident the new free school in Croxley Green will open in 2017.
St Clement Danes School, which is leading the project for the new free school in Croxley Green, made the announcement after South West Hertfordshire MP David Gauke warned the opening could be delayed unless an agreement for the land is reached soon.
Transport for London owns the land to the north of Baldwins Lane which has been earmarked for the Croxley Green Secondary School.
But one condition of the school opening in 2017 was that Hertfordshire County Council owned the land.
In a statement St Clement Danes School said: “We are in touch with those parties involved in negotiations and would like to reassure prospective parents that we remain confident that the school will open in September 2017.”
It has also announced plans to change the name of the new school to Croxley Danes School.
Explaining the move, the school said: “St Clement Danes is a recognised name for employers and universities and has a reputation for producing outstanding students.
“Its students benefit from having attended a school whose name is well known and linked to excellence.
“We believe that changing the new school’s name to Croxley Danes School will ensure that Croxley students benefit from similarly positive associations in the minds of future employers and universities.”
TFL claims the land could be used as a “mixed development”, meaning houses could be built on the site alongside a school.
The council refused to be drawn on whether the land price had increased because of TFL’s proposals.
Figures released by Hertfordshire County Council show 1,396 pupils will need a secondary school place in Watford and by 2019, there will be a shortage of 165 places, with nearly 1,500 pupils needing a secondary school place.
In Rickmansworth, there will be shortage of 19 places in 2017, 58 places in 2018 and 52 places in 2019, if no additional places are created.
Croxley Green Secondary School has been identified as a council priority to reduce the pressure on school places.
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