Plans for a SEND secondary school in Gillingham have been given the green light.

Inspire Special Free School is set to be built on a former playing field next to Woodlands Cemetery in Cornwallis Avenue.

The two-storey school will offer 160 places for pupils aged 11 to 18 years with social, emotional and mental health difficulties (SEMH) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Pupils will be taught in a range of classrooms, such as an art room and science laboratory, as well as having access to social spaces, calming rooms and a sports hall.

Outdoor facilities including a sensory garden and a multi-use games area (MUGA) will also be created.

Up to 112 car parking spaces and four mini-bus spaces are proposed, as well as bus stop improvements in front of the site.

The school’s construction is being funded by the Department for Education, and once complete it will be run by Parallel Learning Trust, a London-based education provider.

At a meeting last Thursday (18 July), Medway Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the plans.

However, Sport England objected to the plans over concerns about the loss of the playing field.

This means the application will be referred to the Secretary of State for a final decision.

Update 01/08/24: The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has decided not to call in the application. As a result, Medway Council’s approval is ratified.