PLANS to demolish a redundant Northumberland school and build dozens of new homes on the site could be approved next week despite objections from local councillors and neighbours.

The former Cragside First School in Cramlington has been surplus to requirements since the town switched to a two-tier education system some years ago.

Now an application has been submitted to the county council to knock the empty buildings down and put up 55 houses on the cleared site.

Next week county councillors will be recommended to support the scheme, subject to a legal agreement securing some affordable housing and the provision of off-site children’s play and sporting facilities.

Cramlington Town Council says it has no objection in principle to residential development at the school, but can’t support the current proposals.

It claims 55 homes would represent overdevelopment of the site and result in the loss of open space. It calls for a lower density development and also has concerns about inadequate access to the site and a lack of car parking.

Letters of objection have been sent in by 14 local residents who claim the plans will create increased traffic and parking congestion in Cateran Way and mean the loss of open space and a wildlife area.

It is proposed that 16 of the 55 homes will be in the affordable category, and the scheme will be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties.

A report to the council’s south east area planning committee says there are no overriding reasons why planning permission should be withheld.

Officers say targets have been set for housing provision in the various settlements in the former Blyth Valley area. Cramlington had a target of 367 new dwellings in the period from 2004 until this year, but this has not been met. The report adds: “The development of this site would assist in doing so.” Planning permission would be subject to a binding agreement to secure the 16 affordable homes, together with children’s play and recreation provision for Cramlington.