A charity supporting the needs of children with complex learning facilities is one step closer to redeveloping its school in Cheshire.
In April the Seashell Trust’s was given the green light by the government following a public inquiry.
The decision to allow the Seashell Trust to go ahead with the radical overhaul - part-funded by 325 green belt homes - overturns Stockport council’s 2018 refusal of the application.
And now the Trust has agreed the sale of land to housebuilders Bloor Homes who are to build new homes in Cheadle Hulme.
The land sale will allow Seashell to press ahead with plans for the redevelopment of the school and campus for their children and young people with profound special needs.
It will also see the development of new homes in Cheadle Hulme and sporting facilities which will be shared with the local community.
Jolanta McCall, Seashell CEO and principal, said of the news: “I am absolutely delighted to announce that we have reached an agreement with Bloor Homes which will not only provide a significant funding boost to Seashell’s school and campus redevelopment project, but will also see a development of quality, local homes.
“The sale of the land for housing was always absolutely central to our plans to redevelop our desperately outdated school and campus because we were not able to raise all the funds ourselves and despite our best efforts, we couldn’t secure the funds from anywhere else.
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“This sale allows us to start work on our exciting transformation project and offers a bright future for our children and young people.
“It is, however, important to stress that today’s news is not the end of the story. We still need to raise a further £12 million for the transformation project to deliver the school and campus our community needs and deserves.”
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Rhys Nicholson, regional managing director of Bloor Homes said: “This land acquisition is great news for Bloor Homes and we are delighted to be associated with such a worthy project as the Trust’s essential redevelopment.
“Cheadle Hulme is a highly desirable residential area and a natural fit for Bloor Homes’ expanding portfolio of high-quality family homes in first rate locations. We will be working closely with the community and Stockport Council to agree the detail of the scheme and to press on with the delivery of these important new homes as quickly as possible.”
Bloor Homes will be consulting on the specific details of the plans for the new homes in the coming weeks.