THE site of a popular swimming pool has been earmarked as a permanent home for one of Bolton's outstanding schools ­— bringing to an end the long running saga of children being taught on an "unfit" site.

The Jubilee Pool site in Halliwell is to be demolished for a new school building under plans to house children at The Olive School.

And the community pool and day centre, for the elderly and disabled adults, will be relocated to the former Firwood School, off Crompton Way, as part of multi-million pound plans.

Children at the Ofsted-judged outstanding school have been taught in Ashton House, an office block,­ since it opened in 2016.

Now school bosses are applying for permission to stay at their existing premisses, off Blackburn Road, until 2023, when the new build should be ready.

Councillors have previously branded the site as ‘wholly unfit to house a primary school’ because of its proximity to the busy main road.

The school has previously sought permission to extends its stay at the site while a location for a purpose-built school could be found.

In a supporting statement on behalf of the department for education (DfE) and the Star Academies Trust to Bolton planning department, Cushman and Wakefield state: "When Ashton House becomes fully operational as Olive Primary School, it will accommodate a maximum of 420 pupils (ages of 4-11). The temporary school is expected to close on 31st July 2023 at the latest.

"The applicant will undertake best endeavours to accelerate the programme for the permanent site, and if the permanent school is completed ahead of this timeframe, the temporary site will be relocated earlier."

It adds: "The DfE and Bolton Council have explored a number of permanent site options for the school during the last 18 months. The Jubilee Pool site has been identified as the preferred site for the Trust and Heads of Terms with the council were agreed. The director of place has authorised to undertake feasibility, and legal formalities for the delivery of the new facility which now enables the DfE to undertake the feasibility to inform the redevelopment of Jubilee Site for a new school.

"The DfE are currently trying to ascertain the earliest point at which we would get vacant possession of the Jubilee site which will inform the approach to the redevelopment of the site for a school."

The report adds that if the planning application is not approved, the 301 pupils will have to be relocated to alternative schools across the borough.

"There is clear pressure for primary school places borough-wide and the local education authority has basic educational need. The lack of capacity in existing schools is also projected to worsen over the next three years. The responsibility of accommodating these pupils, if the application is unsuccessful will be for the Local Education Authority to resolve. It is unclear as to where these pupils could be admitted within the borough."

The Bolton News understands that work on the school will not start until the day centre and pool have been relocated.