Greater Manchester college to get 10 new classrooms and sport facilities in major expansion

Plans to expand a Tameside college and improve its sports facilities have been given the green light.

Ashton Sixth Form College had applied to the council to build a three storey extension and upgrade its sports facilities.

Now the borough’s planning committee has approved the proposals which will see 10 new classrooms and a remodelled sports hall built at the campus on Darnton Road.

Planning officers, who had recommended the application for approval, had said that there would no significant overlooking or overshadowing issues caused as a result of the construction of the new extension.

“Overall, the proposed design and its use of high quality materials would enhance the campus by regenerating the area it would be sited within,” they stated.

“It also considered that the proposal would make a positive contribution to the teaching environment of the sixth form college.

“The extension will replace existing outdated accommodation with a modern teaching and learning environment for future students.”

The college currently has more than 2,500 pupils on its roll and was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted two years ago.

While the existing sports hall is being retained, areas inside are to be remodelled to increase its ‘appeal and efficiency’, including the installation of a new viewing gallery.

The current single-storey ‘lean to’ extension is proposed to be largely demolished and replaced with a new extension which would include two ‘efficient’ Sport England standard changing rooms with individual shower cubicles.

It will also have ten new teaching classrooms, split over three floors, as well as an accessible changing area and shower room and staff facilities.

It will include two new access stairs and a lift, and provide direct access from the changing rooms to the sports fields.

A report submitted with the application by the college stated that the space on the educational site ‘falls somewhat short of accepted standard’.

There are currently four temporary classrooms in place, with a ‘strong possibility’ that another four will be needed to cope with pupil numbers.

Even student study spaces and some meeting rooms have been converted into classrooms to meet demand, according to planning documents.

Analysis of the college site has founded that the supporting areas next to the sports hall are ‘most in need to transformation’.