Blackpool school’s new £1.2m sports hall opens for use following completion

By Rob Kelly

27 May 2025

Inside the new hall

A new sports and performing arts hall at a Blackpool school catering for children with additional needs has opened following a year-long construction project.

Park Community Academy, based on Whitegate Drive, is part of the Sea View Trust and caters for 2–19-year-old pupils with a variety of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

 The new facility has been designed by architectural, planning and building surveying practice Cassidy + Ashton to host a range of sports and physical activities in addition to school performances.

 The 340 sq m development also includes a new school entrance, reconfigured outdoor playground and improved access facilities.

 Gill Hughes, headteacher, Park Community Academy, said: “Cassidy + Ashton has worked collaboratively with us to ensure this new development will operate as a multi-use space.

 “Alongside being a fantastic sports hall which can be accessed by the school and wider community, the design considered the acoustics and also integrated technology to enable this to become a space where we can showcase the work of our performing arts department to a range of audiences.

 “In addition, we can once again meet together as a whole school, something which has been impossible over recent years as the school has grown.”

 Stuart Johnson, PE co-ordinator, Park Community Academy added: “The opening of the new sports hall will enable us to deliver a wider range of activities and introduce new sports which up to now we have not had the facilities to offer in the PE curriculum, such as Pickleball and Kin-ball. We know these activities will support the physical development of our pupils and their love for physical activity.”

 Cassidy + Ashton was originally commissioned by the Sea View Trust in 2023 to conduct a feasibility study into the most efficient and affordable way to upgrade the school’s facilities to better cater for SEND pupils as well as the school’s increasing capacity.

 The study concluded the best option would be the construction of a new sports hall and Cassidy + Ashton then led the design and subsequent planning submission for the new facility, which was approved in October 2023.

 The practice also led a tender process which appointed Parkinson Builders as construction partner and work began in March 2024.

 Alistair Baines, chairman, Cassidy + Ashton said: “The versatility of the facility as both a sports and performing arts space meant it needed to be designed with the robustness to withstand decades of physical activity as well as having acoustic features which benefit live performances.

 “There are a range of features in the building such as plug sockets at a higher level and recessed door handles which support this hybrid facility. The sports hall is also highly sustainable and includes state-of-the-art heat pump technology as well as solar PV technology on the roof.”

 Chris Leaver, director, Parkinson Builders, said: “It’s been hugely rewarding to have completed this contract to build a state-of-the-art sports hall for such amazing young students, who have followed the build progress closely.

 “Now it is complete, we are excited to see its positive impact on the students and the wider community and we are confident it will serve as a valuable asset for many years to come.”

 

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes Royal Bowland Park street scene NEW.jpg.jpg

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes

29 Oct 2025

2

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth - Representatives from the University's Business School, local SMEs and the IOEE

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth

29 Oct 2025

3

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire BAE Typhoon ECRS Mk2 Radar

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire

28 Oct 2025

4

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold The Mill at Conder Green

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold

28 Oct 2025

5

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm

27 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
28 Oct 2025 - 18 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

16:46 - 16:45

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The AI Lab: E-commerce
Ai Lab ecommerce (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin