Mega plans for a three-storey teaching block and sports hall to be built at a grammar school have been submitted.

If given the green light, 18 new classrooms and six courts will be added at Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone.

The three-storey block will be located in an existing overflow car park at the Huntsman Lane site, with the current parking area being extended to accommodate the loss of spaces.

Planning documents for the proposed development revealed the school is “always oversubscribed” every September and the addition of new housing in the town has put more pressure on the academy.

A design statement said: “The third storey allows for not only future expansion but to enable classrooms elsewhere on site to be re-purposed into larger science labs and food-tech rooms.

“The continuing popularity of the school puts immense pressure on intake.

“Kent County Council has provided funding for this new block so that an extra year group can be admitted."

A second separate application to build an almost identical extension to the current sports hall, was also submitted.

The current hall, built in 2020, has six courts after a 12 court sports hall was approved in 2014.

If approved, this additional six would complete the 12 court sports hall.

A planning document outlined the long-term vision of Invicta and Valley Park, located beside each other and part of the same academy.

It said: “The school had a long term vision to provide first class sporting facilities befitting two growing schools.

“Finance from the local government allowed for phase one – a 6 court sports hall – to be constructed in 2020.

"With the recent addition of the science and technology school it was clear at that phase the second six-court hall was necessary.

“The demands on a single six-court hall are causing scheduling problems and lack of access to all pupils.”

View the plans at www.tinyurl.co.uk/planningkm searching for 22/501825/FULL and 22/501826/FULL