Wythenshawe office set for SEN school conversion

Hurstwood Holdings has applied to Manchester City Council to turn the 20,000 sq ft Vision House into a school for up to 100 children and young adults with special educational needs.

Vision House, which sits on 2.4 acres off Floats Road within the Roundthorn Industrial Estate, was previously the home of Maginus Software. That company vacated the two-storey office block in 2023. It has been empty since.

Now, owner Hurstwood Holdings is looking change tack on the property, with Broadgrove Planning Consultants submitting a change of use application on the group’s behalf.

“There is a clear and growing need for more SEND school places across Greater Manchester, with many existing schools already at capacity,” said Sam Ashworth, project director at Hurstwood Holdings.

He added later: “This site offers a unique and sustainable opportunity to quickly deliver a much-needed facility in a well-connected, secure and nurturing setting, which is uniquely suited to the specialist needs of SEND education providers.”

A specific SEND school operator has not been locked down, but Ashworth said that he was in “detailed conversations” with multiple potential occupiers.

In addition to Broadgrove, Hurstwood is working alongside ArchitectFolk, Jameson Acoustics, SK Transport, Williams Sillitoe, PG Consulting, and NoiseAir on the project.

Learn more about the application by searching reference number 143385/FO/2025 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.

Academic institutions have been taking over more and more office space in the North West. Recent deals have included QA Higher Education looking to sign a 10-year lease at Bruntwood SciTech’s St James Building and UK Management College agreeing terms for Lovell’s old Salford office. Just last month, First Steps Together – an SEN school – applied to take over the 18,000 sq ft Mulberry House office building, also in Wythenshawe.