A pupil referral unit is set to be relocated as preparations continue for a long-awaited new high school.

Spring Lane High School, a local authority owned PRU, currently operates out of four buildings across the borough including at Park House in Chesham, Milltown House in Bury and Spring Lane in Radcliffe.

Cabinet members confirmed plans at a meeting last month to relocate pupils from Spring Lane while construction for the new high school is carried out. 

The new school, called Star Radcliffe Academy, is expected to take its first intake of pupils in September, with construction on the new buildings due to begin in March.

Bury Council says pupils from Spring Lane High School will be moved into interim premises at the New Kershaw Centre on Deal Street.

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The cabinet approved plans to begin adaptation work at the New Kershaw Centre.

Additional work to help accommodate pupils will take place at Park House and the Whitefield Hub buildings is also set to take place, as well as additional adaptations to 6 Knowsley Place and Bury Town Hall to facilitate the relocation of staff.

The total, initial cost of the relocation project is expected to be £1.758m with funding taken from the Children’s Services Capital Programme.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Cllr Lucy Smith, deputy leader and cabinet member for children and young people said: "It's important that we do vacant the Spring Lane location in order to  meet our obligations to get the new Radcliffe school built on that site."

She added: "When we first put forward that site we knew we were going to have to relocate Spring Lane School and that's always been in the financial packet. 

"The cost has always been for a relocation of that school."

Currently, hundreds of pupils living in Radcliffe, which has a population of more than 30,000, face a daily commute to other areas of Bury.

Star Radcliffe Academy, run by Star Academies. will provide 750 places for pupils from Years 7 to 11.

In November last year, the 750-place high school crossed its final planning hurdle as plans were unanimously pass by the council’s planning committee.

Peter Campbell, spoke in support of the application on behalf of the Department of Education and Star Academies at the meeting.

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He said: “The proposals reflect a long held desire to provide a new secondary school in Radcliffe.

“There is an established need for new free secondary school spaces in the town.

“Star Academies have been selected to run the school are one of the country’s leading education providers with a track record for excellence.

“The regeneration of the site will include a new three-storey school clock alongside and attached sports hall.

“The wider site will be remodelled to provide a range of outdoor sports areas, soft landscaping and pupil amenity spaces in an attractive and safe environment.

“The principal building material will be red brick to fit in with the surrounding locality and the scheme includes planting more than 100 new trees.

“A drop off area is included to aid pupil safety and help to nearby roads remain free of obstruction at peak times.

“The school will be a lasting asset for the community.”