Plan for Bolton school gets top marks
Councillors have signed off Star Academies Trust’s application to construct a new home for the Olive Primary School, moving the education facility from Ashton House off Waterloo Street to the former Jubilee Day Centre site off Darley Street in Halliwell.
The trust worked alongside the Department for Education on the project, which will see the building of a part two-, part three-storey school with capacity for 420 students. Plans by architect Bowker Sadler allow for two reception classes, four infant classes, eight junior classes, a library, multipurpose hall, and a studio.
Looking out of the school’s four walls would be a multi-use games area and a sheltered play area for the reception students. There would also be a habitat and forest school on the western boundary of the Olive Tree Primary School.
Staff would be able to park in an onsite car park with space for 38 vehicles, including 12 with electric vehicle charging points. There would also be an additional four disabled spaces and two car-sharing spaces. Half of the disabled bays would have EV charging capability.
Outline permission was granted for the building in February 2022. The current application, approved last week at committee, delved into the detail of the future 11,600 sq ft building.
In addition to Bowker Sadler, the project team includes agent Cushman & Wakefield, transport consultant Stantec, landscape architect Fenton + Reece, structural engineer Ridge, and M&E expert Tace. Galliford Try is lined up to build the school.
You can learn more about the application by searching reference number 18816/24 on Bolton Council’s planning portal.
