Swale’s first free school could be built next to a new housing development on the edge of Sittingbourne.

Plans for the Aspire School, which would provide education for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, were approved by the government in September.

The search for a site for the new facility includes land off Staplehurst Road, near the entrance to Archer’s Park.

A discussion about the possibility of Swale council leasing the plot to the school is to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on December 7.

Cllr James Hunt (Con), who represents The Meads on Swale, welcomed the proposal.

“A lot of work has gone into it to bring it forward.

"The site at The Meads makes sense because it’s in the ownership of Swale council.

“There’s obviously going to be concerns from residents because it’s seen as an open space at the moment but it’s always been a site for a school.

“If the school didn’t come forward, developers would try and get it back for housing.

“It’s better to have a school there than additional housing.”

He added: “I cannot see there’s going to be a problem with traffic. It would be a smaller school and it’s on the main road, straight off the A249 and I think it will work quite well.”

“There’s obviously going to be concerns from residents because it’s seen as an open space" - Cllr James Hunt

Cllr Hunt said it could also benefit the management of the community woodland next door. Another plus would be the school’s connection with Grove Park Primary School, he added.

Aspire is to be part of Grove Park’s Multi Academy Trust and will be overseen by the trust’s leadership team and trustees.

It would be made up of two classes of eight children in each year, a total of 112 pupils, and could open as soon as September 2017.