Somersfield Academy ? formerly known as Montessori Academy ? has sought final planning approval to build a new gymnasium and classroom building at No. 107, Middle Road, Devonshire.

If the application is successful, the new gym building would be two storeys tall with a footprint of around 100 feet by 83 feet, Alex Russell of Botelho Wood architects told the Planning Department on April 3.

?The gymnasium will replace an existing external hard surfaced court area and will serve as a multifunctioning gym, assembly, drama and acting space for the complete actual body of the school,? Mr. Russell said in the application.

?The existing school roll will be increased by approximately 75 students and nine teaching staff, bringing the total school roll to approximately 402 students and 53 teaching and support staff.?

Mr. Russell said this increase would be within the 11- to 16-year-old student age group.

Attached to the north end of the proposed gym would be a two-storey classroom support building measuring around 83 feet by 70 feet, it said.

He said Somersfield had been at the site ? zoned for Open Space and Recreation ? since 2000. ?An initial master-plan for the campus was prepared and a staged implementation of the plan occurred during the last six years.?