Children will no longer need to leave their hometown to get a secondary education after plans to create ‘long overdue’ high school in Radcliffe were approved.

A two-storey temporary school building will be installed until development starts on a permanent build.

One  councillor told the planning committee, where the plans to install high quality temporary buildings were approved,  that  they were glad the Department of Education (DfE) ‘finally got their a** in gear’.

Pupils will start at  The Star Radcliffe Academy next September.

During the meeting, Cllr Jackie Harris said: “It has been long overdue.

Bury Times:

“There is some history there because in 2008 I was on the original schools governing body, and I am really pleased to see this has finally happened.

“Its good news for Radcliffe that money is coming into the town.”

At the planning committee meeting the temporary school building on Spring Lane was approved alongside the demolition of existing school buildings and the temporary leisure centre.

Bury Times: Councillor Jackie Harris

The campus is expected to be built by 2025 but 150 students will be enrolled for September, 2024, in the temporary building.

It is intended that the temporary school would be used for the first two academic terms up to the Easter break in 2025, when the first cohort of students would move to the new main school building for the summer term onwards.

Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth, Councillor Gareth Staples-Jones, apologised for his ‘emotional language’ as he welcomed the news.

Bury Times: Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth, Councillor Gareth Staples-Jones,

He said: “I am glad the D of E got their ar*e in gear and we are actually now discussing this at a planning committee now because I think it is welcomed by everyone.

“I’m welcoming that this has actually gone to a planning stage because we have been waiting a long time for that.”

Radcliffe's new high school will not be complete until 2025

Earlier this year, the council revealed that the DfE had experienced "significant challenges" in delivering its school building programme, which had caused delays with the opening of a number of free schools.

Bury Times: How the school could look under the plans

The project to build a new school is seen as a key element in the regeneration of Radcliffe.

After Tuesday’s planning meeting, the application was approved under the conditions that the temporary school buildings are for a limited period only, expiring on 31 December 2025.

Following the planning meeting, MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford said: "Last night I was delighted that the local planning authority, Bury Council passed plans submitted by the Department for Education and their developer, Morgan Sindall Construction to build Radcliffe’s new high School – this is something I’ve been vocal on and pushed the Government to deliver on.

"Demolition of the existing leisure will allow for a temporary building to accommodate students on site for September 2024, which would be used while the permanent school is being built.

"It is intended that the temporary school would be utilised for the first two academic terms up to the Easter break in 2025, at which point the first cohort of students would decant across to use the new main school building.

"The school will be home to 750 pupils when constructed and feature modern learning facilities as well including indoor sports facilities, including a new sports hall (3 court), a 3G playing pitch, a 2G short pile playing pitch (suitable for hockey) and a hard surface multi use games area.

"These sports facilities would be made available for use by the community outside of school hours."

Radcliffe Swimming Pool permanently closed after 8 years

Last night, further external landscaping and associated site infrastructure applications were also approved with conditions.

After completion Star Radcliffe Academy will provide 750 places for pupils from Years 7 to 11.

Bury Times: Radcliffe\'s current swimming pool and leisure centre will be demolished if the plans go ahead

Construction on the former site of Radcliffe Riverside High School, Spring Lane, is expected to start in late 2023.

Documents, submitted by Morgan Sindall Construction said: “To enable the school to open and enrol its first year of 150 students at the start of the 2024- 2025 academic year in September 2024, temporary teaching accommodation is required, which would be used while the permanent school is being built.

Radcliffe: Building to start on all-weather 3G pitch

“It is intended that the temporary school would be utilised for the first two academic terms up to the Easter break in 2025, at which point the first cohort of students would decant across to use the new main school building for the summer term onwards.

“The construction programme for the project, plans for completion of the permanent school building in May 2025, allowing for the temporary accommodation to be removed and the subsequent completion of the school's outdoor spaces and sports facilities.”