Plans have been put forward to build two new tennis courts within a village.

A proposal has been submitted by Bearsted & Thurnham Tennis Club (BTTC), to Maidstone council, to extend the number of courts at its site to seven.

It currently has five at the club, which is based at Church Landway in Bearsted.

However, two new courts totalling 1,310 sq m are now being proposed on a plot of grassland directly opposite the club on the other side of the road.

Members want the courts to be a “porous synthetic playing surface”.

Porous surfaces represent about 80% of courts in the UK, according to the Lawn Tennis Association.

It allows people to play in most weather conditions and lasts for at least 10 years.

The application planning statement says: “The proposed improvements are intended to improve the services BTTC can provide the community, by providing two further all-weather courts to Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) recommended specifications.

“The proposed court surface is a specialist porous material that is made to imitate traditional playing surfaces – the exact specification is subject to supplier availability, but the material proposed will fall into the category of a synthetic playing surface.

“The proposed courts are to be surrounded by standard specification court fencing, a 2.7-metre high black coated chain-link fence and gate infill between matching posts.

“There is no intention for these courts to be floodlit now or in the future due to the conditions placed on the use of this parcel of land.”

BTTC was founded in 1979 and offers training for adults and youngsters to its 600 members.