Little Lever Health Centre: special school plan up for vote

If approved, the plan will see the former Little Lever Health Centre transformed into a school for children between the ages of nine and 16 with high functioning autism.

Having been put forward in October, the proposal is now set to go to town hall for a vote next week.

A council report said: “The nearest dwellings are located approximately 60 metres to the north on Aintree Road and are screened by intervening buildings and trees.

“The proposed school will have a playground at the rear of the site, adjacent to Mytham Park.

The plan for the new school (Image: Obsidian Design and Build)

“It is expected that some additional noise would be generated by children using the playground.

“No noise assessment has been submitted, however taking into account the intervening distance and screening, it is not considered that the proposal would have an undue impact on the amenity of these dwellings.”

The original proposal set out in October had envisaged up to 60 children at the school, but the latest version of the plans appear to set out spaces for up to 50.

This also includes plans for up to 20 members of staff, including teachers and other support workers.

Council officers have accepted that the area already struggles with congestion, partly thanks to people coming to and from nearby Mytham Primary School.

But they say that the planners behind the new school have already changed their proposal to take account of this.

This includes an on-site drop-off area, two extra staff parking spaces and other measures.

The reports said: “For example, it is submitted that as a special school, transport is organised to take the children to school, as opposed to a normal school, where children are taken by parents.

“The times of arrival and collection can therefore be regulated within transport contracts.”

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It added: “Furthermore, the proposed school will have on-site pull in space for vehicles to deliver and collect children within the school grounds.

“The proposal is to stagger the school start times to avoid congestion at peak periods.

“Mytham starts school at 8.40am, with the proposed start time at Lever Street being 9am.

“This should ensure that the majority of children will be in Mytham School before the cars arrive bringing the children to the special school.”

The proposal will go before the council's planning committee on Thursday, January 4.