A MULTI-MILLION pound expansion of a Kent secondary school has hit a stumbling block.

County councillors have put on hold a decision on an application by the Charles Dickens School at Broadstairs to extend its facilities to allow it to offer 300 more places to pupils.

Members of Kent County Council’s Planning Committee took the decision after being told that the school had changed its plans to try and overcome various objections to the £6million development.

Nearby residents who live in The Mansions, along with The Woodlands care home and Fairfield Manor nursing home, all complained the new facilities were too close and affect their privacy.

In a report on the application, county planning chiefs said the expansion plans should be rejected.

They said the size of a two-storey extension, which would include a sports hall, gymnasium and classrooms for art was unacceptable and would be too close to nearby homes. As a result, there would be a loss of privacy and overshadowing for residents.

County transport chiefs also raised concerns at the number of additional parking spaces, saying the 146 planned was out of line with what KCC would have expected from the size of the development.

The school has now agreed to revise its plans and as result, councillors agreed to defer a final decision.

If the development does go ahead, pupil numbers are expected to rise from just under 900 to 1,160. A further 20 teaching staff would be expected to join the school.

The new application is expected to be reconsidered later this year.