A PRIVATE school has revived controversial plans to build playing fields on protected land.

Yarm School is re-applying for permission to create playing fields on Tees Heritage Park land and a footbridge over the River Tees.

The fields will be used for rugby, football, cricket, rounders and athletics and and access to them will be created via a private wooden footbridge.

The unveiling of the plans come after Stockton Borough Council's planning committee rejected the original proposals back in 2013, despite them being recommended by planning officers.

In August this year, plans for a 36m bridge across the River Tees linking the school with the Tees Heritage Park, in Eaglescliffe, were also rejected.

The school says it has now taken the views of councillors and residents into account by submitting a plan with fewer pitches - down from 11 to eight - and without public access to the footbridge to tackle the anti-social behaviour concerns.

When the original plans were rejected back in 2013, there were concerns any development would unlock parts of the Tees Valley Heritage Park for housing.

In proposals submitted to the council. the school is applying for permission to use existing open space on land opposite the school on the east bank of the River Tees.

The school intends to make the new pitches available for use by community sports teams, and it also plans to publish an information leaflet to local residents, with a plan of the proposed layout.

The pitches will be entirely natural grass and no floodlights or changing rooms will be constructed.

At the moment, the school’s playing fields are some distance away, meaning pupils have to walk or travel in minibuses.

Gary Ferguson, director of sport at Yarm School, said they want to build on its excellent reputation for team sports.

“A few years ago Yarm’s rugby team reached the Daily Mail Vase final at Twickenham and a number of the sport’s professional players, including a recent leaver who joined Newcastle Falcons, started in their sporting careers at Yarm School.”

“We need to have the ability for young people to play and train at facilities near to the school changing rooms.

“The regular sight of our sports pupils walking through the town in full kit is unique to Yarm, but it also deprives pupils of valuable lesson time.”

Yarm School was established in 1978 and also has its own preparatory and pre- preparatory schools, as well as a nursery.

Residents who wish to make comments can do so by emailing, the school’s planning advisers, Lichfields: yarmschool@lichfields.uk