Varndean College wants to keep two-year-old “temporary” classrooms for another ten years.

The school, in Surrenden Road, Brighton, has applied to Brighton and Hove City Council for retrospective planning permission to keep seven huts in the school grounds.

When Varndean asked for permission to put up the classrooms in 2007 it was told they would have to be completely removed, and the grounds restored to their former state, by August 2010, because the structures were “not considered suitable as a permanent form of development”.

But the school said: “The planning application is for the retention of seven temporary Portakabins to continue to provide educational teaching space for Varndean College.

“The re-use of temporary buildings in this way helps to minimise the production of waste.”

A decision is expected by February.