Plans for new South Tyneside primary school given go ahead

A plan to replace a South Tyneside primary school with a new state-of-the-art building has been given the green light.

Councillors today backed a planning application for the redevelopment of Toner Avenue Primary School in Hebburn.

The scheme would see the current school demolished after a larger replacement has been built to the rear of the existing building.

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Plans include a two-storey teaching block, a double-height hall available for community use, playing fields, hard play areas, a multi use games area and an early years garden.

Children would use the existing school while the new school is under construction with a plan set in place to reduce disruption to pupils and residents.

A council officer confirmed there were no objections from internal consultees including traffic and road safety, waste services or environmental protections.

Coun Anne Hetherington, referencing a site visit, added she was “very happy with the arrangements put in place” for the construction.

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This included health and safety conditions linked to the children and access to the site for pedestrians and cars.

The new school would initially cater for 630 pupils between the ages of four and 11 and would help to accommodate new families moving into the area.

There would be three classes in each year as well as a 26-place nursery, a 44-space staff car park, 80 cycle spaces and a separate 34-space car park for pupil drop offs/collections.

The move to incorporate an additional class in each year also reflects the expected increase in pupil numbers as a result of new housing developments in Hebburn.

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The application was granted with conditions covering tree protection and land contamination alongside several factors needing further permission from the council, including a cycle rack and travel plan.

A report also outlines a construction condition limiting  the hours that works or deliveries can take place on the site – 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturday.

It adds construction areas and associated traffic would be segregated with a temporary access route to the school taken from College Road.

Chris Binding, Local Democracy Reporting Service