Cheetham Hill super-school set for planning consent
A Muslim faith school in Cheetham Hill that will eventually cater for 1,600 pupils has been recommended for approval by Manchester City Council’s planning committee at a meeting next week.
The proposals by the Tauheedul Education Trust are for two schools on a site between Manchester Fort Shopping Park and the Irish World Heritage Centre. The trust runs a number of faith and non-faith free schools around the country.
The trust is looking to build two academies – one a girls’ school and the other a boys’ – of around 71,000 sq ft each, which will eventually be home to around 800 pupils each.
The schools have been operational since September last year but are currently operating out of temporary accommodation at the St Chads Primary School site on Balmfield Street, and at Larch Gardens.
Together, there will be 144 full-time equivalent staff once the school reaches its capacity.
The proposals, designed by Ellis Williams Architects, are for two main school buildings of three storeys in height, along with separate sports halls for girls and boys, and sports pitches at the centre of the site.
The school sits behind Manchester Fort Retail Park
There will be a car park with 80 spaces, with 57 spaces for staff and visitors alongside 23 spaces for parents to drop off and pick up pupils, while there are also 160 cycle spaces.
Access to the site will be via Rayburn Way, which runs between the shopping centre and Rayburn Trading Estate.
Wates is lined up as main contractor for the project, having previously worked with the Tauheedul Education Trust on proposals for its Islam Boys’ High School in Blackburn.
Recommending the proposals for approval, Manchester City Council planners said: “This proposal offers the opportunity to develop to a brownfield site which has been vacant for many years.”
“It proposes two secondary schools in response to an identified need, which is an essential facility to serve the local community, and includes further opportunity to properly deal with the legacy of contamination on the site.”
Manchester’s planning and highways committee will meet on 11 April.
Not sure if planning applications for schools can be subject to section 106 – but if so, some money to fix the road (North St) between Cheetham Hill Road and Rayburn Way would be great – it is currently more cobbles than tarmac.
By A view from Green Quarter
Not sure this is going to help anything – we need integration. Male, female, all faiths. If we are going to live together we must understand each other and respect each other. I do not see why in this age why Church of England, Catholic Diocese or any other faith should dictate how schools are built and run. It should be the government pays and the government teaches.
By Bob Dawson
More concerned about the design looks like something from the sixties. Functionality yes but come on designers where’s the vision!
By CBA
how can you be more concerned about the design. When the importance is what is taught in it and so the design only has to work for the function that good education is delivered?
By Bob Dawson
When faith is important in your life,children will often struggle in their childhood life balancing faith and separate teachings in school. Integration is important but school is not the only thing encouraging integration, why not send your child to extra-curricular activities or local sports clubs?
By E