Sport and education have been given a boost in East Manchester as planning permission and funding were both granted to build a new leisure centre and sixth form college.
A 16-acre site in Beswick will see Connell Sixth Form College completed by summer 2014 and a new leisure centre with a swimming pool will also be constructed.
The joint venture by Manchester City Council, Manchester City Football Club and New East Manchester and deputy council leader Jim Battle feels the plans herald in a bright future.
“This represents the culmination of a lot of hard work, as well as the beginning of an incredibly exciting future for East Manchester,” he said.
“Beswick is getting a much needed, top quality higher education facility that will fulfil the growing demand for A-level places in East Manchester.
“Regeneration should be indelibly linked with aspiration, and through the school – and the wider transformation of Beswick – we want to help nurture and encourage our young people to strive, achieve and fulfil their potential.”
Developments planned for the area include a sport centre with research and diagnostic facilities, as well as shops, car parking and road layout improvements.
Work on the 600-place school will begin later this year and students will be based at the East Manchester Academy for the first year starting this September.
The college will be built using Department of Education capital funding and principal designate Gillian Winter hopes the venture will be a success.
“I’m very excited that in less than five months Connell Sixth Form College will be opening for the young people of East Manchester,” she said.
“Connell College will be a centre of excellence for A-Level students in the area, offering every opportunity for students to reach their full potential in a caring environment.”
Following a successful consultation period, an exhibition showcasing the ambitious plans is still available for viewing by members of the public at Beswick library.
MM contacted Manchester City, but the former Premier League champions are not providing any reaction to the development at this time.
For more information visit www.east-manchester.com/beswickproject.
Picture courtesy of Bill Boaden, with thanks.
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