Plans submitted for multi-million-pound new Special Educational Needs centre in Blackburn

By Rob Kelly

17 Jun 2025

The site of a special educational needs centre

A new planning application has been submitted for a multi-million-pound post 16 Special Educational Needs centre in Blackburn town centre.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has successfully secured £1.7m of new government funding that could be used to help transform the vacant Bridge House building, close to Blackburn Railway Station.

And they’re already in talks for it to become part of Crosshill School, under the leadership of the Oak Learning Partnership Academy Trust.

Now, a new planning application has been submitted outlining the proposals to transform the building, including a new two-storey extension, café, parking, an outdoor garden and improved accessibility.

Coun Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “It’s fantastic that we’re now in a position to submit these plans as part of our bid to transform the Bridge House building into a post-16 Special Educational Needs centre.

“The building has been vacant for many years, and it requires significant investment to bring it back into use and so we’ve worked hard to secure new Government funding to help towards that.

“We have big ambitions for our borough – for our residents and for our towns – and we’re on a mission to ensure no-one is left behind, this is a great example of that.”

As well as the government and council investment, the local authority is also looking to use Section 106 money from new housing developments in the borough.

And they’re in talks with the neighbouring Blackburn Youth Zone to allow for the Crosshill students to use the state-of-the-art facilities there if the scheme is progressed.

The Youth Zone building has recently been extended and upgraded as part of wider improvements to youth facilities across the borough, supported by £8m of Government funding secured through the Youth Investment Fund.

When the plans were first announced last month, Coun Julie Gunn, the council’s deputy leader and executive member for children, young people and education, said: “We want to give all our children and young people the very best start to their lives, and this could be a wonderful new centre for those with special educational needs and disabilities.

“The idea of incorporating a café that would be open to the public is particularly exciting as it’ll give the pupils hands-on experience while they learn valuable skills in catering and hospitality, creating important career pathways for them.

“With impressive new facilities just unveiled at the neighbouring Blackburn Youth Zone too – supported by the Youth Investment Fund – it opens-up wider opportunities for them to be able to access those facilities, which would be right on their doorstep.

“And all of this comes on the back of our Children’s Services being rated Good by Ofsted in a glowing report last week, which is absolutely brilliant.”

This new planning application comes just weeks after approval was given for a £2.5m extension to Newfield School, which offers specialist education for children and young people aged between two and 19 years old.

That extension aims to provide new places for 65 pupils with special educational needs.

The Bridge House project could see the numbers of post-16 pupils taught by Crosshill also increase to more than 70, to help meet the needs of an anticipated increase over the coming years.

Currently, the pupils are based at a facility on a business park and the new plans will allow them to access a much wider curriculum, including important life and vocational skills.

Plus, the investment could also pave the way for the existing two-year course to be extended.

Cassidy + Ashton has been appointed as architects for the scheme, which is expected to cost around £3.5m.

Darren Pickens, senior chartered architect, said: "This development will restore a locally renown historic building providing a valuable and much needed community facility, improving learning opportunities for post-16 SEN pupils within the borough.

“Our proposed design maintains the original character of Bridge House, originally built in 1878, through sensitive restoration of its historic façades, while introducing a carefully considered new entrance, and striking modern extension of its west elevation.

“Despite the challenges posed by the building's narrow footprint and it's construction directly over the River Blakewater, our team has created a modern and functional space which make this unusual historic structure capable of delivering a modern special needs facility for fulfilling and inspiring education."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Basil's in the pink Basil Newby

Basil's in the pink

30 Sep 2025

2

Business School recruits three industry leaders to embed employer led innovation into courses University of Lancashire recruit business leaders Rob Binns, Miranda Barker and Marcello Trovati new

Business School recruits three industry leaders to embed employer led innovation into courses

30 Sep 2025

3

Third letting at Frontier Burnley is completed Frontier Park in Burnley CRC Evans

Third letting at Frontier Burnley is completed

30 Sep 2025

4

PM+M becomes a Certified B Corporation Helen Clayton PM+M

PM+M becomes a Certified B Corporation

30 Sep 2025

5

Forsyth and Steele welcomes Alex Forsyth as managing director in its 40th year Alex and Ian Forsyth

Forsyth and Steele welcomes Alex Forsyth as managing director in its 40th year

30 Sep 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
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

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

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

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world
Oct PTC.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October

Soul Bowl, Morecambe, LA4 4BU

08:00 - 10:00

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace
Muted Blue (4).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
08 Oct 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:30

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 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