A Jewish Girls Primary School development with rooftop playground could be built in Gateshead if it is granted the expected planning permission.
The development on Alexandra Road, Bensham, will include the construction of a three storey annex to the north of the site with seven classrooms, staff facilities, management offices, and an external rooftop play area.
The application also requests permission to erect eight temporary classrooms to use while work is ongoing.
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The school submitted a similar application back in 2017 which was approved by the committee in 2018. However, pandemic related delays meant the original planning application approval expired before work could begin. The school has 366 children in its care.
The council acknowledged two objections. The objectors claimed the proposed building was too high and liable to block out natural light and disrupt visual amenity.
There was also a concern raised of noise pollution from the rooftop playing area.
A report into the proposal did not conclude visual amenity would be greatly affected. With regards to proposed noise, the report said: “There is an access entrance into the annex as shown on the northern elevation and its use could result in noise and disturbance to the residents of Worcester Green.”
However, with suitable conditions, council officers did not believe noise would be a major issue. Especially as this particular entrance would be reserved for emergencies only.
Public consultation is not yet complete and members of the public are entitled to raise support or objections until May 18 2022. For this reason, councillors were advised to vote to be minded to approve the application and did so.
If officially approved, the school will become another Jewish educational institution in Gateshead. The Gateshead Yeshiva, located in Bensham, was established in 1929 and continues to operate now.
A Yeshiva is a place where Jews gather to study the Torah and Rabbinic traditions. Originally referring to an academic for advanced learning, the term is now often used for primary schools.
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