A STALYBRIDGE town centre office building will be converted into an educational facility for up to 25 children with special educational needs (SEND) if planning permission is granted.
Denton-based First Steps Together Care Services has applied to Tameside Council to create the service on Melbourne Street.
Currently home to offices, documents say the building’s current tenants are soon moving out.
And they believe their proposal, for children aged 14-16, will benefit the community and no more than six teenagers will be on site at any one time.
Paperwork supporting the application states: “The children to be cared for and educated on site will be the subject of the following specific needs – young people subject of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and young People with SEND.
“The facility will be operated by in the order of 10 staff on site at any one time, with lessons scheduled throughout the day as per a standard school.
“Children will also benefit from use of the outdoor space to the rear of the site with no more than six students likely to be utilising this space at any one time, and only during breaks and lunch, so never earlier than 10am, and never later than 3.15pm.
“The application site has recently been in use as office accommodation for a property development company.
“Whilst the loss of the former use will result in change at the application site, it is clear that the loss will not result in harm or a material reduction in office provision for the local community.
“We understand from an initial review of office space to let within Stalybridge, that there are a number of commercial and office premises currently available, and a number of which are within walking distance of the town centre, indicating a lack of demand and a lack of justification to protect the existing use of the site.
“The loss of this single venture will not therefore result in significant harm to the overall level of provision locally, the character of the local area, nor on social interaction.
“In fact, the benefits to be achieved through the delivery of an educational facility for young persons with additional needs is clearly significant and in our view weighs in favour of the grant of consent in any event.
“It is also pertinent to note that the facility itself will still be creating job opportunities for both teaching staff and administrative staff and will continue therefore to create and deliver local job opportunities.”
Parents of students will be asked to drop their children off, using either on street parking in front of the building or public car parks in Stalybridge town centre.
The applicant also says it is seeking to purchase annual passes for staff use, while PE activities will take place at Active Copley.
Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse permission.