Families living in the shadow of a towering new secondary school claim "it's like having a prison wall around us".

A row of houses in Spring Lane, Canterbury, looks out onto a building site where the £20 million Barton Manor is nearing completion.

Lucy Benton speaks about the school ruining her view

The "overbearing" building has risen from the rubble of the former Chaucer School, which closed in 2015 and was later demolished.

But with the new school one storey higher than its predecessor, neighbours say they have been left with the "atrocious" sight of a 35ft high wall of bricks and grey cladding.

"It's horrendous," said Lucy Benton, 57, who lives opposite.

"It's like having a prison wall around us, except I think the old Canterbury prison was better looking."

Mrs Benton's home is among the line of houses immediately opposite the new school, which was designed by award-winning architects Noviun.

The firm says "a mix of robust and modern design features have been incorporated into the external composition of the building, ensuring a striking aesthetic".

But mum-of-three Mrs Benton is far from convinced.

"With all that towering grey panelling and brick, it's just atrocious - and now it's the view I look out onto," she said.

"It never gets any better when I open my front door.

"When I first saw the pictures, it all looked very nice and lovely with trees, but it's horrible."

Her neighbour, mum-of-twins Cherrie Tupenny, 31, added: "It was so nice when we had all that sky and space when they demolished the old school.

"But we've had all sorts of issues during the building work, with water leaks and internet outage.

"Now what we have is very overbearing and not the nicest thing to look out on."

The new school, which is due to open next September, has been developed around four central, three-storey atriums "creating vertical connectivity and well-lit central spaces."

In the initial planning application to Kent County Council, agents said making the building three storeys would reduce its footprint, allowing more open space for recreation and sports.

The school will be run by the Barton Court Academy Trust, which also has Canterbury's Barton Court Grammar School within its portfolio.

It describes the new school as "state of the art with outstanding design"

It adds: "It will be open to 150 Year 7 students in September, 2022 and the trust believes this outstanding design, combined with an innovative curriculum, excellent teaching and learning, and strong pastoral care and guidance, will provide outstanding education for the local community for generations to come."

The trust has been contacted for a further comment about the building's impact on neighbours opposite.

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