A grammar school has revealed plans for a state-of-the-art £6 million sports hub which it hopes could be used as an academy facility for Premier League football clubs.

Teachers and governors at Norton Knatchbull in Ashford, who include a former chairman of ex-Premier League club Swansea City, hope to submit a planning application for the multi-sports, all-weather facility within six months to a year.

Set to be built on the Cradlebridge site behind the existing school, it would be accessed via the school and from a new road leading off Javelin Way on the Henwood Industrial Estate.

The boys’ grammar hopes the community will use the services the centre would offer, which include a 4G astroturf pitch, a sand dressed hockey field and four five-a-side football pitches.

A new sports pavilion is also proposed as well as 150 car park spaces.

Vice chairman of governors Neil McClure was chairman at Swansea City for a period, working at the club from 1997 to 2001, helping to oversee planning permission for its home ground the Liberty Stadium, which opened in 2005.

He said the school hopes to secure financing from the likes of Sport England or the FA for the project.

He said: "A key requirement of public financing is that we can demonstrate strong community buy in and demand for the facility.

"The pavilion has club facilities and changing rooms which would make it attractive to local clubs wishing to base themselves here.

"We would also approach premiership football and rugby clubs and encourage them to see this as academy facilities for the area for weekends and school holidays."

He added: “We now wish to engage with local clubs and community groups as well as national sporting bodies before finalising our plans to approach funding and grant making bodies.

“When I was chairman of Swansea City Football Club I oversaw the planning permission for the new stadium which has revolutionised the local sporting scene.

"I believe that these new facilities are equally important for the development of sporting success in Ashford and the enhancement of the school’s outstanding reputation for sport.”

The school says the facilities will be available for use seven days a week.

Head teacher Susanne Staab, who is leaving the school this term after eight years at the helm, said: “We are very proud of our students’ amazing track record of success in sports.

“We do have good indoor facilities and good playing fields but at a time when the school is planning for growth, we currently find ourselves using other off-site sports facilities plus we urgently need to replace our all weather pitch which is well beyond its design life.

“The Cradlebridge playing fields are only partially usable at present and this new facility will revolutionise our sporting facilities.

“We have been in consultation with both Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council for 18 months and have been encouraged by their support.

“The planned new facilities would represent an important addition to the school’s existing facilities, however the scheme will only succeed if we can encourage local community use including the possibility of local sports clubs seeing the facility as a permanent home.”

In an attempt to make the site available to neighbouring residents, full floodlighting will be installed.