Council eyes Daisy Mill site for new school
AN imposing south Manchester Victorian mill could be demolished under plans to build a new secondary school.
The city council is considering using the Daisy Mill site in Stockport Road, Ardwick to help meet growing demand for school places.
It estimates the cost to be £24m, including a £1m bill for demolition and a further £1m for remediation.
The large five-storey building was used as a cotton mill by a company called Pownall’s until 1939.
It is owned by the council and latterly part of it has housed the council’s data centre but this is being moved to the Sharp Project in Newton Heath.
According to a council agenda document, published ahead of next week’s meeting of the executive, the city is the fastest growing in the UK with a population of around 500,000. This is predicted to rise to 600,000 by 2024.
“In order to support the city’s economic growth over the next 10 to 15 years the council will need to balance new employment opportunities with
the provision of more new homes in the city to support this population growth,” said the report.
“Ensuring a sufficient supply of high quality school places will be essential and is a critical component of the council’s work in delivering
the Manchester Strategy and improving outcomes for Manchester residents.”
It said a school for 1,200 pupils would fill a gap in provision in Ardwick where pupils travel to either Hulme or Gorton. The council is looking at all options to deliver the facility which could either be an academy, a free school, or a second site for an existing school.
