The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Primary school plans signed off by city leaders
CONCERNS RAISED OVER ‘ENORMOUS CONGESTION’ AROUND SITE
A NEWCASTLE primary school will be moving into a new building, after plans were signed off by city leaders.
Councillors granted permission on Friday for a redevelopment of Benton Park Primary School. It will see a twostorey school built to the south of the Corchester Walk site’s existing outdated buildings, which will subsequently be demolished once classes have been moved across to the new complex.
Newcastle City Council’s planning committee was told on Friday morning that the new school would not lead to any increase in pupil numbers, with its current capacity of 443 pupils and 46 staff not expected to change, while a specialist space for deaf children will also be retained within the new development.
Mark Patton, the local authority’s assistant director for children, education, and skills, said: “We are pleased the planning application for a new school building for Benton Park Primary School has been approved at today’s planning committee.
“Benton Park Primary School was selected as one of the schools to be rebuilt or refurbished through the central government School Rebuilding Programme (SRP).
“The new school building will provide a modern, efficient learning environment for current and future generations of pupils.
“The proposals will also create new outdoor spaces for learning, sport, and play, including a multi-use games area.
“The new school building will be built on the existing school site and the current building, which was built more than 70 years ago, will be demolished once pupils and staff have moved into their new building in 2025/26.”
Lib Dem councillor Doreen Huddart did raise concerns, however, about “enormous congestion” on the roads around the school caused by parents picking up children and staff going to and from the neighbouring HMRC offices at Benton Park View.
She told the committee: “You get lots of kids dashing across in order to find their parents, who are queuing in a car somewhere up the road.”
Labour’s Marion Williams added that “everything about it is great apart from the problems with getting to and from the site”. She said: “It is difficult for me that we are asked to approve a planning application knowing the concerns which have been raised and when we are all fully aware they aren’t being addressed.”
Staff from the huge Ministry site at Benton Park View are set to be relocated over the coming years to offices being built in Newcastle city centre.