A school in Tunbridge Wells has secured planning permission for a £4 million building that will replace an old gymnasium.

The Skinners' School in St John's Road will see its rarely used former sports hall transformed into a new four-storey arts and literature building after the application was approved by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Inside the construction, which has caused disputes between the school and neighbours, would be a new sixth-form centre, arts and literature departments and library space.

Councillor Dr Linda Hall was the only member of the planning committee to vote against approval of the application and labelled the plan "overbearing" and a "monstrous carbuncle".

At the meeting she also said it would block the light of surrounding residents and is "unsympathetic".

Dan Beatty lives next door to the school and said his family have had no issues previously, however, claims this new development would be "overly dominant".

He added: "No calculations have been made as to the effect on the light in the area. We accept the noise currently from the school, it is expected but this will increase with the construction of this new building."

"No calculations have been made as to the effect on the light in the area. We accept the noise currently from the school, it is expected but this will increase with the construction of this new building" - Dan Beatty

Head teacher Edward Wesson said the school had met with local residents to and altered the planning application to remove one storey of the building to mitigate loss of sight and light.

Speaking during the meeting he said: "We have this unique opportunity to transform the school and this is going to be a building devoted to learning and it has been carefully designed.

"I hope it will not become a nuisance to neighbours. We have reduced the height by a whole storey.

"There is a press on boys grammar provision in the area and we think this development is an exciting addition to our school."

Speaking to the Kent Messenger after the meeting held on Wednesday, December 3, Mr Wesson said the school's next challenge would be funding the construction.

He added: "We are extremely pleased. This will unlock so many doors because it means we can move a lot of classes and resources out of the current buildings and into the new ones, meaning there is opportunity for improvement in other parts of the school as well.

"It allows us to develop the school internally. We now have to apply to a conditional improvement fund to try and fund the construction.

"I hope we can continue to work with neighbours to mitigate any problems we have made a deliberate attempt to make the application better for them.

"This is a very exciting time for us."

Mr Wesson hopes the new building will open its doors to students in 2016.