Middleton St George primary school to build larger play area

Darlington Borough Council approved the plans on July 7 after receiving the application earlier this year from headteacher Claire Throw and her team at St George’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School on Neasham Road.

The project will remove an area of soft landscaping and replace it with a new safe play surface, extra play equipment and a pergola to give children more space to learn and play outside.

A low wall, fencing and a gate will be added to keep the new play zone secure and to help manage changes in ground levels on the edge of the site.

The school, which sits close to homes and the nearby railway line, asked for permission to extend its existing play area over a space of just over 500 square metres.

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Council officers looked at the impact on neighbours’ views, noise, wildlife, trees and drainage before reaching their decision.

In their report, planning officers said the changes would mainly be seen from within the school grounds and that nearby homes on Thorntree Gardens, separated by gardens and planting, would only see limited changes along the boundary.

Officers also said the scheme would not cause problems for neighbours’ day‑to‑day living, as the new facilities sit within an existing outdoor play space where children already spend time.

Because the school sits close to the railway line, Network Rail was asked for its views and said it had no objection in principle.

However, it has told the school and its contractors to make sure cranes, digging and any other work do not affect tracks, bridges or other railway structures nearby.

The school now has three years from July 7 to begin the work, giving staff time to line up funds and contractors for the new facilities.