Working on behalf of Morgan Sindall Construction and the Northern Education Trust, DPP secured consent for an extension to Thorp Academy, Ryton consisting of a larger dining room. 10 classrooms and administrative offices.
This extension is critical to facilitate the school expanding to allow for additional pupils across all year groups due to an increase in young people in the catchment area. Set over two storeys, it has been sensitively designed to sit lower than the existing school height in order to maintain residential amenity and have minimal impact on a nearby conservation area.
DPP provided preliminary advice before preparing and submitting a pre-application enquiry to the Council to get early feedback on the proposed development. Alongside this, DPP also carried out a co-ordinated public consultation programme with nearby residents to gather their thoughts and concerns. For the full planning application, DPP prepared and coordinated the planning application pack in liaison with the consultant team, which included the preparation of DPP’s Planning and Heritage Statement and Statement of Community Involvement.
Following active engagement with the Council to resolve a number of consultee comments relating to ecology, drainage and highways to allow for a prompt start on site, DPP achieved a unanimous approval at planning committee in December 2024.
DPP have been retained to discharge the conditions tied to the planning permission and are working hard on facilitating a start on site within Q1 of 2025.
Speaking about the consent, Will Marshall, Principal Planner DPP said:
We’re delighted to have achieved this much needed school extension to allow for increased pupil numbers that are already in the area due to various housing developments over the years. It will ensure that pupils can continue to receive the highest level of teaching in the best facilities all whilst staying within their existing community of Ryton. Our thanks to the project team and Gateshead Council for their hard work, all of which led to a resounding success at Planning Committee
Image: Space Architects.
