The application will now go to the secretary of state

18:14, 06 Aug 2025Updated 18:15, 06 Aug 2025

How St Thomas Church Of England Primary School Could Look

A plan to rebuild a crumbling Leigh primary on playing fields – in the face of opposition from Sport England and 300 petition signatories – has been approved by the council.

But the Wigan planning committee decision, to allow the scheme for St Thomas Church of England Primary School, has yet to be approved by the government.

The application will now go to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Angela Rayner due to Sport England’s objections.

To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal here

Ms Rayner could opt to call the decision in, but committee members were told by planning officers they were ‘optimistic’ that would not happen.

The application was for two parcels of land – one off Astley Street, where the crumbling school currently stands – and an area of land off Hawkhurst Street, home to two football pitches and the proposed site of the new school building.

An existing nursery school building and car park will remain in place. Once the old school building is demolished, the area will be restored to become publicly-accessible open space.

Developers have pledged a £300,000 contribution for a 3G pitch at Hesketh Meadows, nearly four miles away from the site, but Sport England considers this ‘insufficient to offset the loss of playing field land’, committee members were told.

“They have advised that the application must be referred to the secretary of state, if approved,” a report read.

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Town hall bosses have acted to alleviate concerns over road safety and parking on and off-site by removing the general drop-off area and the introduction of a traffic regulation order together with ANPR cameras.

James Morley, addressing the meeting on behalf of the residents, said that ‘many residents believe their concerns have not been properly addressed or suitably engaged with’.

Former Leigh MP James Grundy was one of the objectors to the plan.

“Many residents are concerned with regard to traffic issues, including on-street parking,” he said. “I have been contacted by numerous residents on Ennerdale Road regarding this issue of the car park that services the shops and local chippy.

“Due to the level of parking at peak times, the top of Ennerdale Road becomes a one-way street with vehicles double-parked for a number of yards. These proposals do not address the additional traffic from parents transporting their children to and from school.

“Another issue is with the highway layout in the surrounding area. As a resident of Higher Folds, the Double Roundabout at the Bowling Green pub is at peak times a danger to navigate.”

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As well as the 300-name petition, there were also 48 objections to the plan from people living nearby.

If it goes ahead, the new school will be part one and part two storey with play areas at the rear and parking to the west of the building. On the opposite side there will be a multi-use games area (MUGA).

There will be a playing pitch for use by the school during the day and community groups in the evenings and at weekends. Changing facilities are also part of the plan.

Proposing refusal of the application, Coun James Fish said: “I can’t understand why [the location of] the school needs to be moved.

“I understand the building is going to be a modern one, but I can’t see the justification in moving the current playing fields to a site nearly four miles away.”

However, Coun Fred Walker responded saying: “Anything new always meets with resistance. But these children need a new school. The current building is way past its sell-by date.”

He said that the fact the Department for Education recognised the school needed replacing was significant.

“This is not a failing school that’s really delivering for the people around there,” he said. “I’m disappointed that some people have seen this as a loser instead of a winner for the area.”

The plan was approved by 10 votes to two.