A plan to demolish an old building to upgrade a SEND college is underway
The existing Birtenshaw College building at Firwood House was first used as a college in 2014 – after formerly being a care home.
Bolton Council planning officers said in their report that “given the age of the building” the applicant, Birtenshaw Group, is looking to redevelop it into a “purpose-built facility”.
The group launched an ambitious bid to raise £3m to fund the new building earlier this month, which they said will feature high-quality facilities, including therapy rooms, wet rooms and improved access to outdoor space.
College for SEND students
Birtenshaw College is currently used to provide specialist further education to students between 16 and 25 with a range of special educational needs.
Their application was formally approved on November 19, and the number of students using the site will remain the same at around 70 to 80 pupils.
Officers said this will amount to around 40 pupils per day, as they only attend a couple of days a week, and there are 50 staff members.
Birtenshaw Group said that while the new building is under construction – the college and its students would temporarily use other buildings in the town centre.
Plans for landscaping
Nine trees, one group of trees and a section of hedge will be removed during development – but a proposed landscaping scheme will plant 23 new trees.
As part of the plan, the applicant had to submit an arboriculture statement detailing how trees on the site that are to be kept will be protected.
On December 3, Bolton Council confirmed that the provided statement is acceptable, allowing the development to move forward.
Source: Yahoo News
Image: Ellis Williams Architects
