A FORMER Ashton-under-Lyne store will be converted into a college extension after funding was secured.
Now an extra 350 students may be accommodated at what was Wilko.
The site, which lies next to Tameside Council’s main building, will be leased to Tameside College following confirmation of capital funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), through its Local Growth Fund (LGF).
That, along with the money received from the Department for Education for 16-19 sufficiency challenges and the college’s own reserves, contributes towards the £4.2 million project.
And it be operational from the start of the next academic year, September 2026.
An additional 11 classrooms, more examination space and ancillary accommodation will be provided as an extension to the college’s current base adjacent to the unit.
A signing ceremony between the council and college was held on Friday, October 24 to sign off the terms and showcase the exciting plans for the unit.
A council spokesperson said: “Local authorities have a statutory duty to make sure there are sufficient places in education for young people post-16.
“In Tameside, there is an increasing population resulting in a larger demand for post-16 provision, with a continuing rise forecast in the post-16 cohort over the next few years.
“A peak of school leavers is predicted to take place in 2026/27. This rise in school leavers creates an insufficiency of places that could see an increasing number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
“Leasing the space to Tameside College enables the council to assist with delivering additional resources and infrastructure to support growing communities.
“In turn, expanding local capacity for post-16 provision will ensure more young people can access aspirational, inclusive opportunities in Tameside whilst also bringing additional footfall to Ashton town centre businesses.”
The authority’s executive member for lifelong learning and culture, Cllr Leanne Feeley, added: “I’m thrilled that Tameside College has secured the necessary funding to progress the transformation of this vacant unit to make this exciting development a reality.
“It will mean our young people can access a high-quality education that will open up career paths for them, while supporting the regeneration of our town centres.”
Jackie Moores, principal and chief executive at Tameside College, commented: “This is a really exciting project for the college and local community, which the council has provided great support for.
“This development will help us continue to meet the increasing needs of young people in the borough, with the college doubling in size over the past seven years.”