Land earmarked to be used as future burial plots is set to become the home of a new school in a bid to meet ever-increasing demand.

Medway Council cabinet members are likely to support the plan for the site on Cornwallis Avenue in Gillingham at a meeting later today.

It is currently reserved for the expansion of the neighbouring Woodlands Cemetery.

The authority says only 55% of the 3.35 hectare site is needed to provide sufficient burial plots for the next 100 years, while “pressure” continues to grow on educational provision.

A report by Paul Clarke, programme lead for school organisation and capital services, reads: “Local and national attitudes towards burial are almost certain to change over the next 100 years.

“Options for ‘lift and deepen’, increasing ground levels, reusing grave space, and an increasing reliance upon cremation will serve to mitigate against the local authority running out of capacity across its cemetery portfolio.

“In contrast, demand for school places in Medway is rising across all sectors of the education system.

“Having the remaining 1.5 hectares of the Cornwallis Avenue land available for education use will facilitate meeting these pressures and the local authority’s duties in respect of school sufficiency.”

Gillingham Community College used the site as a detached playing field up until its closure in August 2001, with the land now used for boot fairs and local football matches.

Medway Council’s draft local plan, which will be adopted in 2020 if approved, has already identified the plot as being part-cemetery and part-education use.

However, it is still currently earmarked for burial plots only.

Mr Clarke adds: “Approval of the recommendation in this report will simply advance this position and allow proposals to be progressed to meet the pressure on school places.

“The decision on change of use is a matter for the planning committee.”

The authority acknowledges Sport England is likely to oppose plans to build on a playing field, but says the part of the site set aside for cemetery expansion will still be available to use until it is required for burials.

Some burial fees will be set aside if the plan comes to fruition to ensure cemetery provision is available in the 22nd century, the report adds.

The population of Medway is predicted to increase from 278,000 to 317,500 by 2035.

Cabinet will vote on leasing the land to Medway Commercial Group – a local authority trading company, of which Medway Council is the majority shareholder – for a peppercorn rent, subject to planning permission being granted.