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North East school campus could be demolished after shutting down

Connor Larman
·2-min read
North East college campus could be demolished after shutting down Picture: CHRIS BOOTH <i>(Image: Picture: CHRIS BOOTH)</i>
North East college campus could be demolished after shutting down Picture: CHRIS BOOTH (Image: Picture: CHRIS BOOTH)

A North East college campus could be demolished after plans were submitted following its closure.

The former Sunnydale School site in Shildon, as part of Greenfield Community College, closed for good back in August 31.

Leaders agreed that a new “21st Century education experience” in Newton Aycliffe would be built.

Some £22m of council money will go into the project, Durham County Council’s cabinet heard.

The Northern Echo: Picture: CHRIS BOOTH
The Northern Echo: Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

Picture: CHRIS BOOTH (Image: Picture: CHRIS BOOTH)

Now plans have been submitted to Durham County Council that would see the building demolished.

Works would consist of clearing the interior of the building, remove asbestos, a combination of hand remote demolition of the building.

Read more: Man crashed into parked car outside Thornaby Sainsbury’s

The area will then be levelled and covered with topsoil seeded with grass.

Although councillors have expressed their disappointment over the closure, they have backed the demolition of the building.

Councillor Shirley Quinn said: “This remains a sensitive issue locally and while I would have wanted the school to remain open and used, I appreciated the final decision of split site closure and then the final direction to close.

The Northern Echo: The buildings set to be demolished outlined in red Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
The Northern Echo: The buildings set to be demolished outlined in red Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

The buildings set to be demolished outlined in red Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL (Image: Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING)

“I support the demolition follow decisions made in respect of this building due to its unsightly condition and the problems which resulted in the forced school closure on Health and Safety grounds.”

Councillor Matt Johnson said: “While we were all dismayed to see the end of secondary education in our town, it is plain to see that the building needs to come down ASAP so I also support demolition in accordance with the Council's safety procedures and the timeline supplied by Graeme Plews's subsequent email.”

The Northern Echo: Picture: CHRIS BOOTH
The Northern Echo: Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

Picture: CHRIS BOOTH (Image: Picture: CHRIS BOOTH)

The new Newton Aycliffe site aims to accommodate 800 pupils in a building that was “suitable for 21st Century education.”

The Greenfield Community College's pupils, previously split between the two sites, will be based on the Aycliffe site.

All pupils have been taught there since the Sunnydale site was temporarily closed due to health and safety concerns in January 2020.

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