Sunderland councillors approve transformative plans for St Aidan's Catholic Academy

City councillors have given the go-ahead for plans to demolish and replace a Sunderland school with state-of-the-art facilities. The major redevelopment of St Aidan’s Catholic Academy in Ashbrooke was approved by Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee this week.

Developers Bowmer + Kirkland, appointed by the Department for Education (DfE), will oversee the project as part of a national programme aimed at upgrading ageing schools. The plans involve constructing new facilities, phased demolition of existing buildings, and "rejuvenation of the landscape", according to planning documents.

Despite no increase in pupil or staff numbers, the plans include increased on-site parking. The new campus will feature two main buildings: a three-storey teaching block with classrooms, an assembly hall and dining area, and a three-storey combined sports and sixth form building.

The site masterplan divides the school into zones including main buildings, an external dining area, staff and visitor parking, games courts and other outdoor areas. Site designs also include a "welcoming faith garden, a horticultural hub for community engagement, and a social family dining area for fostering connections", along with "sensory gardens" and an "outdoor construction skills area and habitat trails".

Access to the school site will maintain its current footprint, with temporary teaching and staff accommodation set to be installed for the duration of the phased demolition and construction to "ensure continuity of teaching and learning on the site". A design and access statement from the applicants highlighted the project as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-imagine the campus and built environment at St Aidan’s Catholic Academy, and to capitalise on its attractive setting within the Ashbrooke Conservation Area".

At this week's planning meeting, a planning agent representing the Department for Education (DfE) spoke in favour of the application, describing it as a chance to replace "outdated school buildings" with a "purpose-built facility that better serves the needs of its students, its staff and the wider community". Councillors were informed that the proposal seeks to "consolidate" St Aidan’s on one site, with future decisions regarding the existing sixth form building at the nearby Briery site yet to be determined.

A council planning condition was suggested to ensure "wider community use" of new sports facilities at the revamped St Aidan’s school site. The plans received unanimous backing from the Planning and Highways Committee at their Monday, November 25, 2024, meeting.

Sunderland City Council’s planning department had recommended the planning application for approval in a report prior to the decision-making session, citing multiple benefits including an improved teaching environment.

The proposed all-weather pitch and multi-use games area, modern school buildings, and potential community use are among the benefits of the scheme, which also aims to enhance the local conservation area and boost biodiversity. A council report also highlighted the project as an "improvement upon the existing 1970s buildings" and noted its "sustainability aspects such as reduction in water use and high insulation standards".

Despite acknowledging that "up to 30 protected trees" would be felled, council planners argued that the "economic, environmental and social benefits" outweighed this. During a recent discussion, members of the Planning and Highways Committee lauded the scheme. Councillor Iain Scott expressed his support, stating: "I’m a huge ally of these proposals and absolutely welcome the application. My own ward Hetton has benefited from two brand new schools and the outcomes for these kids will be exceptional, we have seen those results in Hetton already."

Councillor Michael Dixon, representing the St Michael’s ward where St Aidan’s is located, described the proposals as a "magnificent project". He added: "My former ward colleague and now Alderman, Peter Wood, was chair of the governors of this school for many years and we have always had a close link with the school with it being in our ward. But it’s a city-wide good news story and I’m really pleased that we have got the application in tonight and I wish it well for the future."

Councillor Melanie Thornton, chair of the Planning and Highways Committee, commented: "It’s a fantastic school anyway but it’s going to be even better with a new facility like this."

A planning statement submitted to council officials earlier this year indicated that the redevelopment was proposed due to the condition of existing school buildings, which are "beyond any economically viable refurbishment". The planning statement further stated: "The proposed development is being procured under the UK Government’s School Replacement Programme, which seeks to rebuild schools assessed to require replacement based on building condition assessment."

This programme is dedicated to the provision of high-quality learning environments in line with the UK’s latest government standards, alongside low-energy solutions delivering Net Zero Carbon in Operation.

"All of the existing school buildings on the campus are to be replaced by the new proposals. They have been identified by Department for Education condition appraisal to be unable to properly support secondary education, and also to be beyond any economically viable refurbishment."

For more details on the planning application, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website and search reference: 24/01395/FDC.

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