An award-winning special school will be able to offer 70 new pupils a place after plans for an extension were approved.
Plans to build seven new classrooms, a multi-purpose hall, play areas, and additional car parking have been approved with conditions for Millwood Primary Special School in Radcliffe.
The school, situated on School Street, is for pupils aged two to 11, with very complex medical needs including severe learning difficulties, autism, challenging behaviour, epilepsy, communication difficulties and sensory and multisensory impairments.
The school is managed through the council and wanted to expand its capacity to 240 by building a new block on a current grassed area of the site.
The planning statement in support of the expansion, said: “The expansion of Millwood is included within Bury Council’s strategy to deliver an increased capacity of high quality, local provision for SEND pupils.
“This increase in capacity at the school will see the number of staff increase by 35, to a total of 158 staff members.
“In line with the increase in pupils, the application also proposes the expansion of the existing car parking by 19 new car parking spaces, including two accessible bays, taking the total car parking spaces to 134 on-site.”
During a recent planning committee meeting when the application was discussed, Radcliffe Cllr Mary Walsh said: “This is a highly recognised school of excellence and it has a waiting list of students needing these provisions so I would vote in favour of this application."
Cllr McGill praised the school for its quality following a recent "outstanding" Ofsted inspection and for its handling of the planning application in terms of not causing disruption to neighbours.
The application was met with full support from committee members and the plans were approved.
Read more: Radcliffe special school rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted
Read more: Radcliffe pupil designs Millwood Primary School's new school logo
Millwood opened in 2012, based on a design comprising a central hub, three teaching wings and a hydrotherapy pool.
Read more: Millwood Special School in Radcliffe receives gold award
In 2018, two new classrooms were approved which increased the capacity of the school by 16 students.
The school has been awarded various awards for its approach to education, such as the Leading Parent Partnership award and the gold award from UNICEF, for the school’s protection of children’s rights.
It holds an Ofsted rating of "outstanding" which was judged in 2013, and again last year.
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