'Unfortunate' case as historic Easington Colliery Primary School demolition approved - despite being a listed building

Plans to demolish an ‘eyesore’ derelict school have been given the green light by council chiefs.
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After more than 20 years of standing vacant, Durham County Council spent £53,000 bringing it back into public ownership after it became a ‘target for vandals’.

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Earlier in 2020, the authority submitted a planning application to clear the site and create a pocket park until a permanent use for the land is found.

The historic Easington Colliery Primary School has sat empty for decadesThe historic Easington Colliery Primary School has sat empty for decades
The historic Easington Colliery Primary School has sat empty for decades

This included the demolition of the Grade II-listed former school buildings and the repair/refurbishment of perimeter walls, railings and gates to serve the park.

Following consultation, the plans and a separate bid for listed building consent were approved on Friday, October 16.

The boy’s block, girl’s block, manual instruction block, bike sheds and playground dividing wall will be demolished as part of the scheme – with the ‘master’s house’ retained.

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While noting the loss of the listed buildings, Historic England lodged no objections to Durham County Council’s planning department ruling on the proposals.

The historic Easington Colliery Primary School has sat empty for decadesThe historic Easington Colliery Primary School has sat empty for decades
The historic Easington Colliery Primary School has sat empty for decades

A statement submitted to planners reads: “Ultimately the case of the Easington Colliery Schools is an unfortunate one.

“As listed buildings they can in theory be saved and brought back into use. It is the likelihood of this happening that is the issue, one that has been discussed over twenty years often with concerted efforts on the part of Durham County Council and Historic England to make re-use happen.

“After twenty years, waiting for that opportunity to arrive is not a practical or desirable option and the information is now provided to make an informed decision in line with paragraph 196 of the National Planning Policy Framework.”

It added: “As building owners, Durham County Council should consider the possibility of themselves restoring the buildings and weigh the benefits of doing so against the removal of the buildings in their current condition and replacement with a park.

“As long as this happens we do not object to this proposal being determined by Durham County Council.”

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Almost 350 people gave their views on the proposal, with 91% agreeing that demolition was the best way of bringing the site back into use and more than 60% describing the site as an eyesore.

Councillor Kevin Shaw, the council’s cabinet member for strategic housing and assets, previously said that demolition was “very much the last resort.”

A design and access statement linked to the plans outlines the “significant public benefits” from the demolition plan.

These include “the removal of a major eyesore and source of environmental, economic and social blight” and subsequent improvements from redeveloping the site as a pocket park.

The report adds these factors are “sufficient to outweigh the harm resulting from the loss of these designated heritage assets.”

Easington Colliery Parish Council was also supportive of the plans, noting the environmental and social benefits of the demolition and the “creation of a green space in the heart of the colliery.”

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