THE owner of a rundown former school in Gainford is appealing an enforcement notice to demolish the remains of the building.
Described as an eyesore by residents, planning permission was granted for the demolition of St Peter’s in May this year, but with the condition that its bricks be reclaimed and used to build a 1.4m high wall along the entire length of the site’s northern boundary. Planners insisted the wall be built within five months of the demolition and that a wildflower meadow be created on the remainder of the site.
The building has been subject to repeated vandalism and arson attacks.
However, in an update to Gainford Parish Council, county panning officers confirmed that an appeal against the enforcement notice had been submitted by the building owner, Ruttle Plant Holdings, at Darlington Magistrates Court.
In a statement to the parish council, planners said: “The developer is appealing the demolition requirement of the notice, along with the requirement to remove the existing building rubble bunds, and also challenging that the remainder of the steps in the notice exceed what is required to protect visual amenity.
“They have also submitted that the timescale for compliance is too short.
“The submission of the appeal thereby suspends the notice until the appeal is heard/determined by Darlington Magistrates Court.”
The planning department said it was unable to give a timescale for when the matter would be heard in court.
