PLANS to transform the site of a derelict school, widely regarded as an eyesore, have been recommended for approval.

The former St Peter’s School site in Gainford has been vacant for 20 years and has become increasingly rundown, frequently targeted by vandals and fly tippers.

Part of the site had to be demolished following a suspicious fire in 2016.

Over the years various proposals have been put forward to redevelop the site but nothing has come to fruition, a source of great frustration for villagers who are sick of the sight of the partially demolished building.

But now Kebbell Homes, which co-owns the land with Ruttle Plant, have put forward plans for 57 new homes on the brownfield site.

The site would be made up of 16 two-bedroom, 23 three-bedroom and nine four-bedroom homes while the remaining Victorian building would be converted into six one-bedroom and three two-bedroom flats.

An area of open space accessible by the public is also in the plans. A total of 20 per cent of the homes - 11 units - would be affordable.

In a report, senior planning officer, Tim Burnham, said it was a “positive” move to keep the front of the former school building as it has “architectural detailing and regional rarity as a remnant of a Catholic institution”.

He added: "The development will also see the wider site addressed which has long been a negative feature in a prominent location within the Gainford Conservation Area."

Mr Burnham said there was enough school places to accept any new children moving into the homes while he said the "attractive development" has "extensive support from local residents" after the developer held a consultation with residents.

He said two letters of comment had been received by the council with one letter detailing how the site should be developed while another letter "accepts the principle of development due to the largely brownfield nature of the site but questions the incursion into open land to the south of the site and the implications that this may have for considering the development of other open land on the fringes of Gainford".

Councillors will be asked to approve the application at the next Area Planning Committee (South and West) meeting in Spennymoor, on Thursday, at 2pm.