School Rebuilding Programme
Planning application proposals – 29th August 2025
We are excited to let you know that a planning application will soon be submitted for the redevelopment of Wellfield Academy. This welcome redevelopment will deliver significantly improved educational facilities for the local community, building on the school’s educational successes.
The redevelopment of Wellfield Academy is being delivered by the Department for Education as part of their School Rebuilding Programme. Kier Construction has been selected by the Department for Education to design and build the new school.
The majority of the existing school buildings are in a poor condition and are earmarked for demolition. Two new school buildings (one 3 storeys and one 2 storeys) will be built in the centre of the site partly on the existing sports field and partly on the site of the existing school. An area of new sports field to replace that which will be lost will be created following the demolition of the existing buildings.
The sports hall block and the outdoor sports courts will be retained as existing.
There will be no change to vehicular / pedestrian access points into the site. The existing car park within the site will be expanded and redesigned and will benefit from the installation of electric vehicle charging points. A new cycle shelter will also be installed with an increased capacity.
There will be no change to the school capacity (staff & pupils) as a result of the redevelopment.
The new buildings will use timber frames in their construction to minimise embodied carbon and will be designed to have enhanced thermal performance to minimise energy demand. They will use ultra-low carbon and renewable energy solutions including ground source heat pumps and solar panels on the roofs.
The existing maintenance access off Carlton Road will be utilised during construction to separate the construction and school traffic.
Please click HERE to view a document that outlines our proposals in more detail ahead of the planning application submission.
Please click HERE to see our summary information flyer.
We are holding a drop–in event at the school (in the sports hall) for anyone who wants to find out more or who would like to ask any questions about the proposals. The session will run from 4pm to 7pm on Monday 8th September 2025.
If you have any comments or queries on the current proposals, please send these to wellfieldacademy.uk@avisonyoung.com by 12th September 2025.
We will be submitting the planning application in Autumn 2025. Once the application has been submitted, it will be available to view and comment on online via South Ribble Borough Council’s online planning portal: https://publicaccess.southribble.gov.uk/online-applications/
Subject to receiving planning permission the school redevelopment is planned to commence on site in Spring 2026.
