PLANS have been drawn up to convert a historic upper dale former school, closed three years ago due to dwindling attendance numbers, into two, four-bedroom family homes.
Forest of Teesdale Primary School, which had a capacity for 35 pupils, was closed in September 2022 when there was just one youngster left on its roll and council leaders said it was the “only viable option”.
It followed a successful campaign backed by the Mercury in 2016 to keep the school open as part of efforts to attract young families to upper Teesdale.
The 165-year-old building and the adjoining schoolmaster’s house was sold by Raby Estates in 2023.
Now, new owners James Donaldson and Claire Proctor of South Parade, of Croft on Tees, have submitted proposals to Durham County Council to convert the buildings into two, four-bedroom family homes, each with independent access.
In a heritage, design and access statement, agent Neil Prior of Far North Studio, on behalf of the owners, said: “It is fully intended to preserve the character and heritage of the existing buildings forms and relationships as closely as possible, particularly the main and very prominent front elevations.”
A traditional whitewash is proposed to be reapplied to the school building, even though it is no longer owned by Raby Estate. In contrast the school master’s house will be finished in natural stone.
Outbuildings at the end of the schoolhouse, which are in a bad state of repair, will be demolished and replaced with a one-and-a-half storey barn-like extension.
To provide each house with a dedicated entrance it is proposed a new driveway is created for the schoolmaster’s house.
Mr Prior added: “At present, vehicular access to the school is restricted and any vehicles entering the site must perform a three-point turn in the entrances to the farms opposite in order to gain a straight run in through the gate and then have to repeat the process in reverse on the way out.
“It is proposed as part of this project to reduce the level of the driveway adjacent to the road, form a new curved splay and taper the levels to suit. This will then allow vehicles simple access into the property.”
Three trees would need to be removed to create the new driveway, however, there are plans for these to be replaced with wych elm saplings planted around the new access.
He said: “In addition to the like-for-like replacement of trees, a number of other additional trees are also proposed in order to satisfy our additional nutrient neutrality commitments.”
The plans are available to view at www.durham.gov.uk.
