New school to be built in Greater Manchester town after council signs off on plans

A new 750-place high school is to be built in Radcliffe after the final planning hurdle was crossed. Bury Council’s planning committee unanimously passed the proposals on Tuesday evening which will see children from the town able to attend school there for the first time since 2014.

The school, operated by Star Academies, will be built at the site of the temporary leisure centre on Spring Lane, which will be replaced by a new ‘hub’ building which will shortly be constructed in the town centre. Currently, hundreds of youngsters living in Radcliffe, which has a population of more than 30,000, face a daily commute to other areas of Bury.

In October, a separate planning application was approved to build a two storey temporary school building, which will house the first intake of 150 pupils from September 2024. The permanent school will be built around it with pupils planned to migrate there in spring 2025.

Peter Campbell, spoke in support of the application on behalf of the Department of Education and Star Academies. He, said: “The proposals reflect a long held desire to provide a new secondary school in Radcliffe. “There is an established need for new free secondary school spaces in the town.

“Star Academies have been selected to run the school are one of the country’s leading education providers with a track record for excellence. “The regeneration of the site will include a new three-storey school clock alongside and attached sports hall.

“The wider site will be remodelled to provide a range of outdoor sports areas, soft landscaping and pupil amenity spaces in an attractive and safe environment. “The principal building material will be red brick to fit in with the surrounding locality and the scheme includes planting more than 100 new trees.

“A drop off area is included to aid pupil safety and and help to nearby roads remain free of obstruction at peak times. The school will be a lasting asset for the community.”

He added that once built, the sports facilities would be open to the community outside school hours. Coun Des Duncalf, said: “This school has been a long time coming and it’s fully supported by all the local councillors, regardless of party.”