Backing for Wigan high school redevelopment

A scheme to redevelop a Wigan high school has received a huge boost after it was given the green light by planners. Wigan Council’s planning committee has backed the application by Wates Construction for St John Fisher Catholic High School on Baytree Road.The proposals will see the transformation of the existing school and demolition of existing buildings. A new three-storey teaching building and new sports block will be built in their place.A four-storey temporary teaching block, new sports courts, and reconfiguration of car parking and access, also form part of the developmentThe sports block will include a sports hall, fitness studio, activity studio and changing rooms.It is proposed to keep the school operating during the re-development proposals with the demolition of the older buildings phased to reduce the need for temporary classrooms.However, a council report has acknowledged that some temporary accommodation will be required while the new buildings are constructed.Parking for 76 spaces is also included.The report said the site was identified as early as 2008, as part of a previous government initiative under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF). However, the funding for the programme was withdrawn.Planning officers have said the Department for Education (DfE) have secured the funding for the re-development of this school site. They added a mix of school and community buildings can now be secured for the “benefit of teachers, pupils and the wider community”.