The Weald of Kent Grammar school will receive a brand new sports hall following a £2 million investment.

An application to build the facility, submitted to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, has been given the go-ahead.

It will replace the school's 50-year-old gymnasium with a four-court badminton and gymnastics centre, changing rooms, an office, social lounge, dance studio and 14 car parking spaces.

Cash for the huge project is being provided by the Government's Education Funding agency and Weald of Kent beat hundreds of other schools to the money.

The plan was originally met with opposition from residents living nearby.

Neighbour Lee Prebble labelled the proposed building an "ugly monstrosity" and said it would destroy the selected part of the sports field.

He added: "No proper analysis has been undertaken of the harmful impact on the character and visual amenities of the area.

"There are also traffic concerns. No doubt this building will be let out and will generate more traffic to a site that already results in significant congestion and inconvenience to the local area. Inconsiderate parking is already an issue for local residents and harmful to local green spaces."

Other residents lodged complaints on the council's website. Mrs Jo Jeffrey wrote: "When we bought this property in 1997 we were told by the borough council that the green opposite our house was green belt land and as such "would never be built upon".

"I strongly object to this proposal as we suffer with traffic congestion as it is.

"If the sports hall is to be hired out to all then we can only imagine the chaos this would cause to parking in the area and to traffic congestion."

David Jeffrey also expressed his concerns about traffic and parking and said he doesn't understand why the "prison-like building" can't be built away from the view of neighbours.

In a statement to the council, the school said it is keen to hire out the facility as it constitutes a potential additional resource for the community and a valuable source of income.

Headteacher Maureen Johnson said: "This is excellent news that we have been waiting to receive for many years.

"A few months ago we were advised that our bid to secure funds had been successful and now our planning application has been unanimously supported by the council.

"We would anticipate completing the work next academic year."