(UK) Lancs: $3.4M addition to special school adds 65 more places; "growing need"

May 26, 2025, Lancs Live: Major £2.5m extension approved for Blackburn special school

NW England

A major £2.5million [$3.4M] extension with five new classrooms at Blackburn’s largest special school has been given the green light.

Councillors have approved plans for the new building at Newfield School on Old Bank Lane in Shadsworth, near the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The school provides specialist education for children and young people aged between two and 19. The extension aims to provide new places for 65 pupils with special educational needs (SEN). The scheme was granted planning permission by Blackburn

with Darwen Council planning committee with 10 conditions when it met on Thursday night.

The extension is needed because of a growing need for special educational needs and disabilities education in the borough. . . .

 “The proposed extension would appear as a sizeable addition to the existing school building.  . . .

Blackburn with Darwen growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood said: “This will be a great addition.”

His Tory counterpart Cllr Paul Marrow said: “Anything that improves things for our children with special needs is great.” . . .