Schools could be set for move

Two primary schools could be rebuilt on new sites as part of a near £200million city-wide investment bonanza.

Sunderland City Council earlier this week announced first details of a host of potential projects aimed at creating a “more dynamic, healthy and vibrant Sunderland”.

Schemes include a new footbridge over the River Wear, a £9million car-park for 500 spaces on the former Vaux site and improvements to the city’s main railway station.

More details about the £198m capital spending blueprint are now emerging ahead of the council’s first opportunity to discuss the ideas.

As part of the plans, Sunningdale Primary School, in Shaftoe Road, Springwell, could move to a new £13m home around a mile-and-ahalf away in Clinton Place, East Herrington.

Thorney Close Primary School, in Torquay Road, would then occupy new £6.81m premises on the current Sunningdale site.

Both proposals are only at the discussion stage and there is no timescale for when any changes would occur.

Nor is there any suggestion what would then happen to the Thorney Close site, described on the school’s own website as “spacious grounds”, close to the main A690 road.

A report to a cabinet council meeting says the Thorney Close move, which would relocate the school less than half a mile, would be “subject to approval of the proposal to relocate Sunningdale Primary School to Clinton Place”.

Three other schools across the city would also receive improvements to their current sites if the proposals are approved.