Sixth form centre gains go-ahead and £500,000

Derwentside District Council's planning committee gave the go-ahead for the scheme as part of a £5m refurbishment at St Bede's RC School, in Lanchester.

But the council needs to receive a flood-risk assessment within a month of the project starting.

Construction on the facility is to start next month. It will include well-equipped science laboratories, and areas for administration staff development and other functions will be refurbished.

The scheme has been assisted by £500,000 from businessman Sir Tom Cowie, and the sixth form will be named in his honour.

The news comes as the school is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its opening.

Alastair Bell, a project architect for B3 Burgess, who designed the facilities, said: "We are very pleased about the decision and so is the school.

"We do not have real concerns about the flood-risk assessment and any work to do there to reduce the risk of flooding.

"This is a £4m building and will provide new classroom facilities for young people to learn in.

"It is a very exciting time for staff and students and good news for the education of young people in the area."

The council received two letters of objection to the plan from nearby residents on the grounds that traffic congestion would be exacerbated.

Concerns were also raised about sixth formers wandering around the neighbourhood and dropping litter because they do not have lessons to attend all day.

Principal planning officer Fiona Clarke wrote a report urging the planning committee to approve the plan. It read: "The alterations are required to accommodate the needs of the school and would not result in a greater number of pupils attending the school.

"The main issues for consideration of this application are the design and appearance of alterations and new sixth form block and the highways issues."

The plans include an central life shaft and outside there will be a dropping-off area for parents as well as a space for buses.