A long-awaited new secondary school for Radcliffe is a step closer after an agreement to transfer the land on which it will be built.
Bury Council has agreed to transfer the site – known as Coney Green – to the Department for Education (DfE) and Star Academy Trust.
The council said the decision would ‘unlock the delivery of a new secondary school for Radcliffe’.
A report to Bury Council’s cabinet said the site would mean the demolition of the current pool and leisure centre and the Spring Lane school pupil referral unit, which are currently on the land.
Star Academy Trust and the DfE are currently working on a feasibility study for the new school building, in anticipation of a planning submission in 2022.
The report, by David Lynch, assistant director of regeneration, said: “For the project to progress, DfE and Bury Council need to agree terms on the development site.
“It is proposed that the council retain the freehold of the site and grant a long leasehold to the DfE on a peppercorn basis.
“The proposed access road will sit outside the development site.
“Funding for works to provide the road will fall to the council and ongoing discussions with Star Academy Trust have considered the potential options for delivery of the road, which will also serve the school, either directly by the council, or by Star Academy Trust as part of the school scheme.
“A full proposal of costs, including the delivery of a new access road, will be submitted to cabinet for approval at a later date.”
The report added that the decision to transfer the land would ‘utilise a council owned brownfield site for development’.
Regarding the current leisure centre and pool, the report, said: “As part of the Radcliffe Strategic Regeneration Framework, a new leisure centre is proposed to be included in the new town centre hub.
“The existing Radcliffe Pool and Leisure Centre will need to be demolished at an agreed date to facilitate the school build.
“However, subject to the planned construction work, it may be feasible for it to continue operating for as long as possible to enable continued service provision and community access.”
A new site for the Spring Lane School is also being explored.
