Proposals to replace a primary school’s buildings with a new high-quality site have been approved. 

The new one-storey facility at Sugar Hill Primary School, Newton Aycliffe, will pave the way for the existing two-storey site to be demolished. 

The site will be built in a single storey ‘L-shaped’ design within the existing site at Sheraton Road, and will consist of early years, infants and juniors suites alongside administration offices, a main hall and studio. 

Durham County Council planning officers said the existing buildings are considered to be life-expired and/or at serious risk of imminent failure and exhibiting major defects. A new school was preferred, rather than refurbishment.

The Northern Echo: How the entrance to the new school could look How the entrance to the new school could look (Image: Howarth Litchfield Architects)The local authority said the new school has been carefully positioned to the north of the existing buildings, to allow sufficient space for proposed construction works, without affecting the operation of the existing school and preventing the requirement for temporary accommodation throughout the construction phase. 

Pupils will then be decanted into the new building once completed followed by demolition of the existing school buildings to ensure minimal disruption to education. 

It is anticipated that construction will take place for approximately 60 weeks followed by a demolition phase of 26 weeks.

The proposed school would have the same capacity as existing which is up to 420 pupils and 39 FTE nursery places, for ages 4 to 11. The existing MUGA, memorial garden and outbuilding will be retained, with the existing western playground also mostly retained.

The Northern Echo: An initial design drawing of the new schoolAn initial design drawing of the new school (Image: Howarth Litchfield Architects)

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

However, 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. The proposed new teaching block will provide modern teaching facilities, which will benefit the quality of education for existing and future school pupils. 

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A statement added: “Existing and future school pupils will have access to high-quality outdoor sports facilities, including the retention of the existing MUGA, and the implementation of hard and soft landscaping which will contribute towards their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

“The proposals will have significant benefits for the existing pupils of Sugar Hill Primary School and residents of Newton Aycliffe and surrounding areas by improving the education facilities being offered in the area.”

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