Parents are urging the secretary of state to approve long-awaited plans to build a “much-needed” special needs school.

The Parallel Learning Trust wants to build a second Inspire Academy

in Gillingham to increase the number of school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Medway Council, along with other local authorities, has been criticised for its lack of appropriate spaces, meaning children are often sent outside of the area to receive schooling.

It is hoped the new centre will enable the local authority to better meet the demand by offering more than double the amount of spaces at the Trust’s current site in Churchill Avenue, Chatham.

The secondary school facility, which will be funded by the Department for Education, would offer 160 places with 90 for children with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH) and 70 for pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

It will be built on Greenfields, at the junction of Cornwallis Avenue and Yokosuka Way, and will provide education for secondary and sixth-form students.

However, the project has been blocked by public body Sports England which has objected to the application over the loss of playing fields.

This means the scheme has to be decided upon by the secretary of state.

Jo Warman’s daughter Abbie missed hundreds of days of education after Medway Council could not find a suitable school place for her.

Speaking on the need for a new school, the Hoo parent said: “Both sports and education are equally as important and if they had somewhere else to build a school, that would be better.

“However, this place absolutely needs to be built. It is definitely needed.

“We need more schools but we also need more training in mainstream schools.”

Kelly Adams’ son Harley, who has autism, is in a similar position and has been rejected from around 30 secondary schools which claim they cannot meet his needs.

The mum from Battsman Avenue, Rainham, added: “They need a secondary school, it is not good enough at the moment.

“Even with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) you still cannot get into a school, there are just not enough places for everyone

“It will be too late for my son but hopefully it will help other parents and children who are in my position.”

Although she understands green space will be lost, she said it is “bizarre” that this should stop the application going ahead.

The plans were discussed at a Medway Council planning committee earlier this month where councillors unanimously approved the scheme.

Members said the proposals would mean fewer children would be sent to schools in other areas while providing more SEND places.

Speaking during the meeting, ward councillor for Lordswood and Walderslade, Adrian Gulvin (Con), said: “I certainly welcome this [scheme].

“I think they are absolutely right, this facility will be really good for the young people involved. We are sending far too many out of the area.

“My only regret is that it has taken so long in gestation because it must be at least five or six years since this was first talked about.”

Ward councillor for Gillingham North, Douglas Hamandishe (Lab), added: “I am in full support of this application and I echo the sentiment of my colleagues on both sides, this is long overdue.

“There are lots of parents right now who have children in schools that are struggling to support their needs and equally parents with children that have no place now at the moment.”

Plans for a school at the site have been in the works since 2018 but have faced numerous delays.

At the time Medway Council’s then-Conservative cabinet agreed to lease the land to its commercial arm, which was then known as Medway Commercial Group (MCG), to build an independent facility to cater for SEND places.

It was a controversial decision as councillors questioned the firm’s ability to deliver large-scale programmes and a year later it was dropped from overseeing the development.

It was thought the school would be opened by 2020, however, this did not happen.

Despite the backing from councillors, Sports England, which is responsible for developing grassroots sports and getting more people active, has submitted a statutory objection.

It said the plans would see almost 4.6 acres (1.86 hectares) of playing fields lost and although it recognises the need for a school, it must protect the land.

However, the ward councillor for Watling, Marian Nestrov (Lab) said the area is not used for sports, instead being used by motorcyclists and is now a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

He added: “You would not imagine how many times I have heard on doorsteps speaking with residents that we need another school and another special needs school.

“I even remember a conversation I had with the resident she told me to vote with two hands if there is an opportunity for another school in Medway.”

In their report, planning officers said due to the “extreme demand for this type of school… the benefits outweigh the loss of the historic and temporary use of the land as a playing pitch.”

The DfE and school trust have also agreed to enter a community use agreement which means the field, sports hall and changing rooms could be used by others outside of school hours.

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Although welcomed, Sports England said this would not satisfy its planning policy exceptions.

The application has been sent to the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, to make a decision.

A spokesperson for Inspire Academy added: “We are delighted that first the DfE and now Medway Council have approved the application for a new Inspire Academy to be built.

“The current building is outdated and needs to be replaced. We are excited that we will soon have a brand new building which will perfectly meet our students’ needs which will mean we can continue to deliver high-quality SEND provision.”

It is expected the project will be complete and in place by September 2025 if approved.