A parent has launched a legal battle against plans for new housing next to a special school, warning autistic children will lose their privacy while they play.

The 38-home development, which will be built on Stirling Way next to Lalehap Gap School in Ramsgate, was nodded through by a planning officer despite dozens of objections.

Concerned parents and head teacher Les Milton warned that children with complex needs, including some who are prone to emotional breakdowns, would be overlooked in the primary playground by people in the new houses.

They also flagged up issues with the close proximity of the homes to the school, the additional traffic on A256 New Haine Road and the impact of construction noise on the 220 pupils, who have autism and speech and language difficulties.

But planning permission was granted for the development, which is being built by Kentish Projects Ltd and consists of 23 houses and 15 flats, with parking for 59 cars.

A parent, who is being backed by Parents at Laleham Gap School (PALS), is now pushing for a judicial review to challenge the decision.

Their legal team is already in place, with barristers and a solicitor working on the case, and PALS has launched a fundraiser to pay for the legal costs, which could end up running into thousands.

A spokesman for PALS says they are shocked that planning permission was given by a council officer and didn't even go to committee, despite the outcry over the plans.

"Thirty two parents and the school’s head teacher made objections to the planning application, citing concerns about the school playground being overlooked by the new homes, construction noise and the development being located too close to the school," he said.

"Laleham Gap children need privacy and a calm environment for studying, and many are susceptible to becoming distressed or withdrawn if the local environment is not sensitively managed.

"Other concerns centre around the traffic congestion which already plagues the A256.

"Children who attend the school from all over east Kent have to come to school by minibus or car. The logistics of directing the school traffic to and from the school entrance along Ozengell Place are already very challenging."

'Children with autism have the right to privacy and unhindered play'

He says concerns over air pollution caused by traffic from the A256 also form part of the legal bid.

Les Milton, who runs Laleham Gap, says the action is from a parent and not from the school, but he says he too is concerned about the planned development.

"I put in an objection [to Thanet council] which included a number of issues," he said.

"First and foremost, it's right beside our school and some of these houses will have rooms with windows overlooking our primary playground.

"The developers have changed that slightly but there will still be a direct line of sight from some of the houses into the playground.

"We are a special school, mainly for children with autism. Their right to privacy and unhindered play to meet their needs must be met."

He says problems with traffic on New Haine Road will also be worsened with more cars travelling to and from the new homes.

"When we're not in national lockdown there is, most of the time, a traffic jam beside our playing field, so air quality is an issue," he said.

"There are always traffic jams and coming to and from school, our very sensitive children who already struggle in cars in a traffic jam, will have to wait even longer."

Mr Milton says the infrastructure to support the development needs to be sufficient.

The land is also next to the Eurokent Business Park site, which has planning permission for 550 houses - nodded through on appeal by the former Secretary of State Eric Pickles, after Thanet council refused the plans in 2011.

Thanet District Council is currently unable to comment on the legal challenge.

To support the legal bid visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/judicial-review-parents-at-laleham-gap-vs-tdc

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