Plans to demolish and build primary school

Plans to demolish and rebuild a Sunderland primary school have officially been lodged.

Sunderland City Council bosses previously approved almost £5million of investment for a new building for Hetton Primary School.

The plans aim to replace the school’s ageing premises on Moorsley Road with a two-storey facility, including new nursery provision.

A formal planning application was submitted earlier this year and validated by the council’s planning department on February 4, 2021.

The new school’s design includes a range of facilities,fromspecialistteaching rooms and rooms for teaching smaller groups, to staff facilities to help “broaden the existing curriculum.”

As well as landscaping works, the site would allow for more staff and visitor parking, a dedicated dropoff zone, areas for informal play, a junior-sized sports pitch and a ‘forest school.’

Several ‘shallow wetlands’ are also proposed as part of the drainage strategy forthesite,providingecological benefits and potential teaching uses.

A planning supporting statement, submitted on behalf of the city council, says the existing school is “no longer fit for purpose” and is “lacking in specialist teaching provision which newer primary schools can offer”.

It adds the current lack of nursery provision “prevents the transition from early years to primary education within the same setting.”

If approved, the rebuild would boost Hetton PrimarySchool’spupilnumbersby almost 100 and would allow the school to cater for children from the age of two.

James Packer, 30, of Grasmere Crescent, Sunderland, was banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay a

£650 fine, £65 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He admitted two counts of drug-driving in Boldon on July 8.