New secondary school for 750 pupils to be built in Salford

The proposals for the new facility, on the playing fields of an old high school demolished in 2009 to the west of Longshaw Drive, were up for debate at this morning’s planning panel meeting (20 January).

The two-storey school will have space for up to 750 pupils, with access via Longshaw Drive, and will feature outdoor all-weather pitches as well as outdoor recreation areas for students and staff.

The site will feature an 88-space car park and 48-space cycle storage and the school is set to employ between 90 and 100 members of staff. The plans were submitted by Wates Construction Ltd.

Just three letters of objection were received by Salford Council regarding the application. Concerns raised included the school overlooking nearby residential properties, noise levels from the new school and the loss of the site which is currently popular with dog walkers.

Funding for the new school is understood to be coming from the government’s Department for Education.

What was said in the meeting?

During the planning debate concerning the application, councillors understood residents’ concerns regarding noise and traffic around pick up and drop off times at the school, but argued, due to the site previously being home to a secondary school, that residents would be ‘well versed’ in the realities of living near a school.

Coun Tanya Burch said: “It’s good to see that as our city’s growing, our population is growing. We need more schools. I understand the residents’ concerns about the noise and the traffic – undoubtedly those are the issues around any school.

“It’s good to hear that the school is committed to the social mobility of their students.”

Coun Philip Cusack added: “I welcome this application and the development here. I think good school provision here in Salford is something that’s not only necessary but should be encouraged and these facilities in areas like this are crucial to the development of Salford.

“I do think that the external design is a little bit utalitarian, I’d like to see a bit more flare in the design of schools in future, but I don’t think that’s sufficient grounds to say no.”

Salford Council’s planning panel approved the application from unanimously.