Member Article

School makes way for new homes and cemetery

The demolition of an old school to make way for new homes and a cemetery on Teesside has started.

Stockton Borough Council workers are destroying the former Blakeston School, in Norton, which has been renamed North Shore Academy and has moved to a new £18m building on Talbot Street.

The authority has identified the land for potential new homes, a new cemetery and open space, although no firm plans have yet been announced.

It will take 12 weeks to bulldoze the building and remove materials.

Councillor Mike Smith, cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport at Stockton Council, said: “We are pleased that the demolition work is going ahead following the successful move of the academy to its new site.

“We will work with contractors to ensure disruption to the surrounding areas is kept to a minimum and look forward to the redevelopment of the site which we hope will serve a number of purposes for the local community.”

It is intended that part of the site will be allocated for the creation of new cemetery space to meet the future requirements of Stockton Borough.

An area has also been allocated for sale for housing and new open spaces for use and enjoyment by residents and visitors.

Existing leisure facilities have been re-provided as part of the new development at Talbot Street.

The demolition costs will be funded from the sale of the allocated areas for development.

All development on the site will be subject to planning permission including publicity and inviting comments from local residents.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .