Meopham Community Academy has unveiled plans to replace its mobile classrooms with a new school building.

An application submitted to Gravesham council states the primary school wants to demolish its four existing temporary classrooms and build a new single-storey building which will house a pre-school nursery unit, general classrooms, a hall, an SEN department and associated facilities.

Located off Wrotham Road, the school's current temporary buildings are said to be in a "poor state of repair, with associated maintenance issues and are also unusable within the winter periods."

A planning statement adds: "These are to be replaced with the erection of a single-storey flat roof permanent building intended as an improvement of existing facilities.

"The replacement building is not considered contentious with respect to adjoining neighbours as the proposed is further away from the boundary and set back more.

"The siting is also located over the positions of the existing demountables intended to be demolished."

The application also states the school does not expect an increase in students or staff numbers.

Current parking is provided by a car park at the front of the site and the school says it is making efforts to encourage the use of alternative means of transport.

The statement says the building will be of a similar scale and style as the existing building on site, while its appearance will "provide a fresh new look whilst being sympathetic to the surrounding area."

The design and materials will be "face brickwork to the majority of the building with aspects of render", with tarmac paths around the perimeter of the building, and turf laid over the sites of the demolished cabins.

A conclusion states: "The school is eminently aware of the needs and aspirations of its students, but also the challenges of providing an up-to-date teaching environment and facilities to meet the demands of new curriculum development within the confines of the existing site.

"Suitable available sites within the site are limited without losing amenities, which are vital for the effective functions of the school.

"The design is complimentary to that already in place and is of a design which is reflective of the high-quality buildings the school already has. The access into the building will not be compromised and the aesthetics of the building will match that of the existing structure. In conclusion it is considered that the proposal is an appropriate response to the site design and school's needs."