Govt approves plans for new school in Manchester development

Manchester City Council has announced that plans for a new secondary school serving the Victoria North regeneration area has been approved by the government. 

The 11–16 co-educational school will be run by Dixons Academy Trust and built within the Victoria North new town area. 

According to the council, it is intended to provide additional school places linked to housing growth in Collyhurst South and the wider redevelopment.

Victoria North is a long-term regeneration programme covering land between Victoria train station and Queen’s Park in Collyhurst. The scheme is expected to deliver up to 15,000 new homes over the next 15 years across seven new and existing neighbourhoods, connected by green spaces along the River Irk.

So far, 430 homes have been completed as part of the programme, with a further 550 under construction. Another 4,801 homes have planning approval as part of the first phase of the council’s redevelopment plans for north Manchester.

Cllr Julie Reid, executive member for early years, children and young people at Manchester City Council, said: “Getting the go-ahead for this brand-new school marks a significant moment for this part of the city, both for families already living locally and for all the many more who will move here in the future as the Victoria North new town ambitions are realised.”

The government also announced a £3bn national investment to create new specialist places in mainstream schools for pupils with special educational needs.

Reid added that the council welcomed the funding and said it aligned with Manchester’s recent approach to expanding specialist provision in mainstream settings. The authority is currently awaiting details of its allocation to support further work in this area.