This picture shows how Northumberland’s first carbon neutral "super school" could look.
Northumberland County Council is proposing to spend £40m to replace the Astley Community High School and Whytrig Middle School buildings in Seaton Delaval with a new net-zero carbon site off The Avenue and Astley Road.
A pre-planning consultation event will take place on Tuesday, July 12, where school staff, parents and pupils will be able to see the proposed designs and provide feedback before a planning application is submitted.
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The new buildings have been designed by Ryder Architecture. The facilities will include:
- A new swimming pool for the schools and the community
- A floodlit 3G full size rugby/football pitch
- Two multi-use games areas, split between the two schools providing seven tennis courts in total
- Three 5-a-side grass football pitches
- Three 7-a-side grass football pitches
- Two 9-a-side grass football pitches
- Two full size grass football pitches
- Forest school
- SEN specific facilities to include pupils in mainstream education where appropriate
- Off-site parking, providing staff parking as well as parent drop off and pick up
Guy Renner-Thompson, the council's cabinet member for children’s services, said: "These are really ambitious proposals for new school buildings that will transform education facilities for generations of young people in Seaton Delaval and the surrounding areas. The new on-site sporting and community facilities will also benefit the wider Seaton Valley community.
"Feedback from the local community is very important and we hope as many people as possible will find out more and share their views to help shape this exciting development."
The event will be held at Astley Community High School, Elsdon Avenue, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, NE25 0BP, on July 12 from 6pm to 8pm. Anyone who cannot attend will be able to visit this website from July 12 to 19 to see the proposals and provide any comments.
Following this consultation, a planning application will be submitted, and the planning department will offer a further chance for residents to provide their views. For more information on the project click here.
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