Plans submitted for extra parking to tackle congestion at Sunderland school

The application, from Sunderland City Council, aims to improve access at Newbottle Primary Academy, near Houghton.

If approved, the plans would create extra parking capacity to meet the demand of new housing schemes and allow for any academy expansion in the future.

This includes tripling the amount of spaces compared to current levels and bringing the total to 108.

A design and access statement from the council reads: “The proposed arrangements involve the construction of additional car parking facilities to reduce the problems of school time parking congestion.

“The proposed arrangements have been developed to provide additional spare capacity in view of the extensive housing developments ongoing in the area.

“The spare capacity is considered necessary to allow for any potential expansion within the academy should the demand for school places increase in future.”

All development is proposed for council-owned land and would be funded from section 106 contributions from developers.

This includes a pupil drop-off area and parking on a parcel of land adjacent to Houghton Road and a one-way system with a separate in/out access from the existing academy access road.

In addition, an electronic security barrier is proposed for the academy access road and part of the existing stone boundary wall at the Houghton Road junction of the site would be lowered to improve visibility.

Other proposals include a secondary pupil drop-off area at the academy’s southern boundary along Hawthorn Street and a secondary car park adjacent to Fairbairn Drive, opposite the football pitches/playing fields.

A new pedestrian access would also be created from a public footpath along the southern boundary of the site leading from the proposed car parking facilities.

Both areas of land are covered by the existing CCTV system within the academy which is monitored 24 hours a day by the council’s ‘city alarm and security team.’

The scheme would also form part of the drop-off and parking strategy for the school with drainage and street lighting improvements proposed.

A decision on the plans is expected by the end of November following consultation.

Comments can be made by writing to the council’s planning department or visiting its online portal.

For more information, visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/online-applications and search planning reference: 20/01722/LP3

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