Education group applies to turn office into school

The proposed site near Sandbach has most recently been used as the regional head office for an industrial mineral firm

An education provider has applied for permission to create a school for children with special educational needs (SEN) on the outskirts of a Cheshire town.

Witherslack Group, which provides independent specialist education, wants to convert Brookside Hall in Arclid, near Sandbach, into a school for five to 19 year-olds.

The site, which was once a school, has most recently been used as the regional head office for industrial mineral firm Sibelco UK.

The application to change the use of the building is expected to be considered by Cheshire East Council in September.

Witherslack Group described the existing site off Congleton Road as "an ideal location which will provide future pupils with the very best learning experiences and exposure to nature."

The school would provide about 118 spaces for SEN pupils, and create jobs for about 70 full-time equivalent employees, according to the application.

The group currently operates 28 schools, 38 children’s homes, four vocational training centres and seven integrated learning centres.

It wants approval to change the use of the Arclid site from office to educational, as well as permission for two new multi-use games area pitches, new fencing, gates, doorways and solar panels.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.