Plans for a million-pound sports pitch at one of Kent’s oldest schools have been resurrected less than a year after being withdrawn.

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School in Canterbury has submitted rehashed proposals for a state-of-the-art 3G field, having secured funding from the FA’s Football Foundation.

If approved, the pitch would be suitable for 11-a-side football matches as well as youth games in line with FA guidelines, and built to the west of the main school building.

Sport England estimates such a facility would cost at least £1 million – though this could rise by hundreds of thousands of pounds.

In papers to Kent County Council, bosses at the school say “a need has been identified” for an all-weather pitch in the district and urged the authority to approve the plans.

“The artificial grass pitch will provide a good quality football facility that removes weather as a factor and ensures sports fixtures, curriculum activities and general training are not cancelled due to adverse weather conditions,” said school chiefs.

“The introduction of this new proposal will expand and improve the facilities available at the school and within the wider community, thus encouraging a wider range of participants.

“The FA are actively promoting women/girls football with an aim to dramatically increase the levels of female participation in the sport and it is therefore envisaged that this new facility will assist in achieving this aim.

“The synthetic pitch will help to raise the standard of play and training opportunities within the local area as well as hopefully enhancing pupil’s enjoyment of sport.”

Six 14-metre LED floodlights would be erected, alongside 4.5m perimeter fencing.

The venue has already attracted a lot of attention from clubs, including Canterbury Eagles, Lokomotiv Canterbury, Chartham Sports Club and Charlton Athletic.

It would be open for bookings from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays, 8am to 7pm on Saturdays and 9am to 6pm on Sundays.

The plans have been adjusted to address issues over lighting, which attracted negative attention in 2022.

The scheme was only withdrawn in June last year, with the fresh plans proposing to build the 3G pitch closer to the main school building and further away from houses on Nackington Road and The Foreland.

Headteacher Paul Pollard told KentOnline: “The initial application was withdrawn to meet some concerns raised and look to address them.

“These changes include additional noise mitigation measures, a biodiversity net gain planting plan, rotating the pitch to reduce impact on neighbours, and increased screening to protect the visual impact.

“We see this as a chance for a resource for both our students and the local community, that positively impacts on the health of thousands of people, whilst also providing an opportunity to level the playfield for girls and women's sport.

“Access to high-quality, all-weather facilities is essential for nurturing the next generation of athletes, footballers included.

“An all-weather pitch would provide a safe and reliable environment to train and play year-round, regardless of the weather.”

Langton Girls’ claims to have originated in the Middle Ages before becoming a separate school for girls in 1881, though boys have been accepted into the sixth form since 2010.