A 'flagship' new special school under construction has been hit by a fire, with council bosses now working to assess whether the damage caused will impact its planned opening this September.
Firefighters from across Greater Manchester spent more than four hours tackling a blaze at the site of the multi-million pound new Lisburne School off Fairway in Offerton, Stockport, near the current Castle Hill High School.
Lisburne School is a primary-aged special school for children with learning difficulties and is spread over three sites, with its main building on Half Moon Lane in Offerton. The new building is on the site of the former Offerton High School, which has been demolished.
The plans, according to Stockport council planning documents, will offer a new school for 208 special education needs and disabilities (SEND) children from reception to Year Six, aged 11.
Fire crews were called early on the morning of January 24, with six fire engines in total attending the construction site. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said a 'large building' was involved, measuring 40 metres by 20 metres in total. A drone was flown into the air to assess the scene from the sky as firefighters on the ground battled the flames, GMFRS has confirmed.
The exact damage caused hasn't been confirmed. But the council said it was in contact with GMFRS and working 'to assess the damage to ascertain if this will have any impact upon the planned September opening'.
Councillor Wendy Meikle, deputy leader of Stockport council and cabinet member for children, families and education, said: "On 24 January 2023, a fire occurred on the site of new buildings currently being built by Stockport council and due to open in September 2023 at Lisburne school, a flagship special school.
"None of the areas currently used by pupils and staff on a different site at the school have been affected. We understand this will be worrying for our community, particularly parents/carers of children who are moving into the new building in September.
"We are in contact with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, who are investigating the incident and work to assess the damage is underway to ascertain if this will have any impact upon the planned September opening."
A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Shortly before 7am on Tuesday 24 January 2023, firefighters were called out to a fire in a large building under construction on Fairway, Offerton.
"Six fire engines from across Greater Manchester, as well as a command support unit, a technical response unit and a drone attended the scene where a fire, forty metres by twenty metres, had started.
"Crews used six breathing apparatus, three hose reels, three ventilation fans, a hearth kit, shovels and breaking in gear to extinguish the fire and check and prevent fire spread. Crews were in attendance for approximately four hours and fifteen minutes."
The fire service said an investigation was ongoing to determine a cause. No further details have been released.
The new school would save the council hundreds of thousands of pounds a year by creating 64 extra SEND places, meaning children would not need to be sent outside the borough, reveal the plans.
The school floor area in total will measure some 4,935 square metres, excluding a planned minibus garage, and be split across three interlinked buildings. Lisburne School said it had no comment to make when contacted by the Manchester Evening News.
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