School with 'major defects' to be rebuilt

Planning officers said the existing buildings were at serious risk of imminent failure

Proposals to rebuild a primary school have been approved.

The new one-storey facility at Sugar Hill Primary School, Newton Aycliffe, will replace the existing two-storey construction.

Durham County Council planning officers said a new school was preferred over refurbishment because the existing buildings exhibited "major defects".

The site will be built in an L-shape design at the existing Sheraton Road site, housing early years, infants and juniors suites alongside administration offices, a main hall and studio.

'Minimal disruption'

The application was approved by Durham County Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

It is anticipated that construction will take place for approximately 60 weeks followed by a demolition phase of 26 weeks, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The local authority, run by a Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent coalition, said the new school has been positioned to the north of the existing buildings to allow space for proposed construction works without affecting the operation of the existing school.

Pupils will be moved into the new building before the demolition of the existing school to ensure minimal disruption to education, the local authority said.

However, Great Aycliffe Town Council said there was “extreme concern” that the application does not take advantage of the opportunity to improve safety by creating an on-site drop-off area.

It commented that congestion along Sheraton Road and other local junctions at school time is considerable and often dangerous.

The applicant, construction firm Tilbury Douglas working on behalf of the Department for Education, said the new school will bring significant benefits to the local community.