By Charlotte Green

Plans for an 'exciting' £27 million revamp of a Stockport college boasting a modern gym, dance studio and sports pitches have been unveiled.

Cheadle College has submitted an application to Stockport council for a new purpose-built three storey college building on its site in Cheadle Hulme.

The new three-storey college would see two teaching wings built either side of a central 'heartspace' and would be built to the north of the site off Cheadle Road, in an empty area currently used for informal football.

A planning statement submitted in support of the application states the goal is to 'create a college that will be regarded as one of the finest nationally in the further education sector' and provide an 'inspirational learning environment'.

Development would be 'phased' to allow the existing college building to operate while the new modern replacement is being constructed.

And once the new college is built, the old building would be demolished, making way for a detailed application for up to 63 new family homes to be built in its place to come forward.

"The existing college building is dated, energy inefficient and it is larger than required for the college's curriculum," the planning statement adds.

"The proposal is for an exciting redevelopment that will bring forward a £27 million new main campus building that is energy efficient and sustainable."

Plans are designed to provide an 'inspirational learning environment' (Image - Cheadle College)

The new college building is proposed to include specialist facilities for students aged 16-24 with special educational needs and disabilities, allowing for growth in local provision for students with Education, Health and Care Plans.

There would also be new laboratories, and facilities for students doing the new T Levels – technical-based qualifications developed with employers and businesses – focused on key sectors with skills shortages including health, care and education.

And it would include a refurbished sports 'barn' with a modernised sports hall, gym, and dance studio, as well as an artificial sports pitch on the college site.

The government has awarded the Trafford College Group, which runs the college, £20m to bring forward the proposals, with the group also investing an additional £7m in the scheme. Should planning permission be granted, it is hoped construction of the new college will begin this year.

The residential element of the proposals would come forward after the college agrees a sale of the land to a house-builder.

This application states they would be split between one and two-bedroom apartments, two and three-bed terraced houses, three-bed semi-detached homes, and four and five-bedroom detached houses.

"The presence of the adjacent primary and secondary schools, as well as the new Cheadle College offers prime catchment for future residents, making the site very desirable," the design and access report states.

A decision on the plans by the local authority is expected from the end of October.

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