Tameside seals lease to college for £4.2m school extension
Confirmation of a slug of cash from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Local Growth Fund has green-lit the leasing of a former Wilko unit to Tameside College, which is set to repurpose it to accommodate up to 350 sixth-form pupils.
Tameside College’s plans seek to add 11 classrooms, additional examination space, and ancillary accommodation to its roster with the conversion of the 20,900 sq ft former discount store.
The site off Market Place within Ashton town centre will boost post-16 education provision when it opens from September 2026.
Planning permission for the conversion has been granted. NTA Planning assisted Tameside College with its application to the council, while designs were drawn up by Seven Architecture.
Wilko went into administration in 2023, leaving empty retail units behind.
Cllr Leanne Feeley, executive member for lifelong learning and culture, said: “I’m thrilled that Tameside College has secured the necessary funding to progress the transformation of this vacant unit to make this exciting development a reality.
“It will mean our young people can access a high-quality education that will open up career paths for them, while supporting the regeneration of our town centres.”
Jackie Moores, principal and chief executive at Tameside College, added: “This is an exciting project for the college and local community, which the Council has provided great support for.
“This development will help us continue to meet the increasing needs of young people in the borough, with the college doubling in size over the past seven years.”
To view the change of use application, use the planning reference number 25/00636/FUL in Tameside Council’s planning portal.
