Former village school set to be turned into site for new homes

A bulldozed former village school site could soon be turned into prestige housing under new development plans.

Newcastle-based Karbon Homes Limited wants to build 16 detached and semidetached properties on land previously occupied by West Boldon C of E Primary School, in North Road.

The company says its scheme for 10 three-bedroom and six four-bed roomhomes – some three storeys high – would provide much-needed low-cost housing.

It has applied to South Tyneside Council for planning permission to convert the fenced-off North Road site.

The undersubscribed school closed in 2009, despite a 4,100-name parent protest petition, and was flattened last year.

Karbon Homes is working on the project in partnership with Gus Robinson Developments, a national building and civil engineering company. Their scheme relates mainly to the former school building and playground a rea, not its playing fields.

Zoey Hawthorne, assistant director of development delivery at Karbon Homes, said: “The plans consist of a mix of three and four-bedroom affordable homes, available through rent to buy.

“At Karbon Homes, we have recently committed to the delivery of 500 new homes a year, based on plans that are suited to each local community, this development will help us towards this ambitious aim.”

A report into the scheme confirms the almost half-hectare site sits in the northern part of the West Boldon Conservation Area, which is dominated by the medieval Church of St Nicholas.

The conservation area is a designated heritage asset, though it is not thought to contain anything of archaeological significance.

The report adds: “The proposals are designed to enhance the rural and residential character of the conservation area.” People can comment on the application until Friday, January 25.