A DEVELOPMENT scheme in the pipeline for a disused school and its playing fields is set to be a winner.

In 1998, Kemplah Primary School, in Guisborough's Aldenham Road, was closed when it merged with Newstead Primary School because of surplus places. A new school, Highcliffe Primary, was opened at the Newstead site.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council now plans to sell the land to a developer to build housing on the former school site and upgrade the playing fields.

The primary school site lies in the boundary of the North York Moors National Park, while the playing fields come under the control of Redcar and Cleveland Council.

A report to the council's policy and resources committee says discussions have taken place between the two authorities and their preferred option is to develop roughly half of the site and leave the rest as open space.

The site is used as a public open space and includes a footpath, a small play area that is in a poor state of repair and a kick-about area. It is sloping and has drainage problems, but the council says the improvements, costing more than £100,000, will benefit the community.

Dr Joan Rees, director of the economy and the environment for Redcar and Cleveland Council, said of the plan: "We believe it is a winner on several fronts.

"It solves the problem of the vacant school site, it brings significant community benefits with on-going provision for the maintenance of the recreational area and it is delivered at no cost to the council tax payer.

"The community benefits will include an overall upgrading of the recreational area, providing two five-a-side pitches and a new children's play area."

The committee meets on Monday