A “redundant” games area destroyed by mindless vandals could have new life breathed into it after plans were approved by a council.

The multi-use games area (MUGA) at Newport Primary School, Middlesbrough, opened in 2003 with hopes that the facility would become a welcoming hub for residents to meet, play sport and have fun.

But blighted by vandalism and anti-social behaviour for several years, the playpark, off St Paul’s Road, has since been rendered “redundant”.

After 17 years, Middlesbrough Council’s Planning and Development Department has now approved the council’s own application to erect a 2.4m perimeter fence, closing off the play park to the public.

And while it may be a sorry end for the MUGA as a public facility, there are hints of a bright future for the site after Middlesbrough Council approved an application for it to be adopted by Newport Primary School.

According to Middlesbrough Council’s planning report, the site “has been subject to vandalism and anti-social behaviour over several years resulting in the facility being removed from use due to health and safety concerns”.

The report said that, as a result, “all access to the MUGA has now been removed with the gates locked off and perimeter access removed with the installation of additional adhoc fencing welded insitu”.

The application for the “redundant” games area said: “The proposal is to change the designated use of the land from the MUGA to general play areas for Newport Primary school use only, removing the existing surfacing, fencing and lighting.”

The application added: “It’s hoped that the removal of the MUGA and access to existing recesses from the perimeter will assist in the reduction of anti-social behaviour.”

The application has since been given the green light by planning officers and it now remains to be seen what will become of the former public park.

Newport Primary head teacher, Patricia Maxwell, was optimistic, but stressed that the future of the site was yet to be agreed.

“While we are delighted that Middlesbrough Council has approved its planning application to repurpose the multi-use games area, this only establishes that principle of development,” she said.

“It is still too early to say what the future holds for the site as nothing has yet been agreed.

“Nonetheless, this represents a positive step forward towards breathing life back into a facility that has, for several years, fell into in a sad state of disrepair.”