AN INFLATABLE plastic dome the size of a house may become the latest addition to a public school’s playing fields.

Brighton College’s application for the 7.6m tall structure to enclose one of its tennis courts in the winter months comes before the city’s planning committee next week with the backing of council officers.

But residents in the nearby conservation area have furious objections and at least one councillor has raised concerns.

The structure is intended to provide an all-weather surface for sport during the two-year construction of the college’s grand new sports and science centre.

Wednesday’s meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council planning committee will consider the college’s plans to build a concrete “ring beam” around one of its tennis courts, to anchor the inflatable dome.

The application explains: “The dome would have a maximum height of 7.6m and would be 18m by 36.5m in area.

“The dome would be constructed out of polythene membrane reinforced with rope netting secured via a series of ground anchors, connected to a concrete ring beam around the periphery of the tennis court.”

Officers are “minded to grant” the application, although they have raised heritage concerns since the college is in a conservation area and the undeveloped sports field is considered a key element of the area.

Since the dome would primarily be used in winter when surrounding trees would be devoid of leaves, planners also point out it would be visible to neighbours.

Officers have stipulated provisos including: the structure should be temporary; its noise level is quieter than local background noise; and lights do not operate after 9.30pm, with any light which enters nearby homes limited to very low levels

Richard Clark who lives in nearby College Terrace said: “We, the neighbours, feel this is a step too far.

“We are already putting up with years of building works at the college.

“And we are sent threatening letters from the council if someone puts up an TV aerial on the front of our buildings in the conservation area.

“We are even blocked from putting up a temporary for sale signs so how can Brighton College feel it is suitable to erect a giant floodlit tent?”

Councillor Karen Barford informed officers of residents’s objections.