Rossendale signs off school demolition, rebuild
All Saints RC Language College’s existing facility will be replaced by a 45,700 sq ft teaching block at its campus off Haslingden Road in Rawtenstall.
Rossendale Council approved the demolition of the existing school building and the construction of its replacement at its development control committee meeting on Tuesday. This decision was made in line with officer recommendations.
Tilbury Douglas Construction submitted the plans for the scheme in March on behalf of the Department for Education after a full feasibility study found that major repairs or replacements were required in the immediate future.
The Ellis Williams Architects-designed project will see the creation of a three-storey building on All Saint’s 32-acre campus, which sits entirely across Green Belt territory.
On the ground floor, students will find a 2,100 sq ft hall and a 2,200 sq ft dining area, as well as six classrooms including a 700 sq ft drama studio, a 1,100 sq ft design technology workshop, and a 2,100 sq ft art room.
Moving up to the first floor, there will be 10 teaching rooms alongside two 600 sq ft music rooms and a 400 sq ft staffroom.
The second floor will feature a further eight classrooms, including five 900 sq ft science labs, and an 800 sq ft library.
Proposals also include a new staff car park, which will provide 54 car parking spaces including five electric charging and six disabled bays. There will also be three motorbike and 16 cycle spaces.
The college must remain operational during the construction period so the demolition of the current building will take place once the works are completed. The existing sports hall will be retained in this demolition.
The facility will sit on land currently occupied by the college’s existing multi-use games area. This area will be relocated opposite the sports hall.
All Saints is one of 50 schools selected for funding under the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme, which aims to deliver 50 new or refurbished schools each year for the next 10 years.
ICENI Projects is the planning consultant for the scheme. The project team also includes AJP, TACE, Amenity Tree, AGP, OFR Consultants, and Keelagher Okey Klein. Hydrock is the highways consultant.
Want to learn more about the project? Search for application number 2023/0103 on Rossendale Council’s planning portal.
