Wakefield Council has backed proposals for a £10m project that will see an unused building transformed into a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school.
The location in question - the former Regional Fire Control Centre site - has recently been acquired by the council, with the building having been purchased in March.
In a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, members backed plans for the £10m investment that will allow for the building being repurposed, with the aim of delivering up to 120 new specialist places for young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
To support the redevelopment of the site, cabinet has approved the use of High Needs Provision Capital Allocation (HNPCA) funding from the Department for Education.
The council has said that the move would mean that children can receive education closer to home, as well as improving specialist provision and mainstream inclusion.
In a statement earlier this month, a council spokesperson said: ‘Demand for specialist places is rising nationally and councils everywhere are under pressure to find sustainable solutions.
‘The new school is part of how the council aims to meet the challenge locally and make a real difference for families.’
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