PLANS for a new play area at a school in Bolton town centre have been lodged by an education trust.

A planning application for a 'temporary playpark' at University Collegiate School, on Deane Drive, has been received by Bolton Council.

The Church of England School’s Trust proposes creating a temporary asphalt play area within the existing site to provide pupils with a space which can be used year-round.

Pupils currently have access to an area of grass for informal play - but this area is only useable during drier periods and is susceptible to deterioration during periods of wet weather. The area is not useable through much of the winter.

The free school welcomed its first cohort, of around 100 Year Seven pupils, in September 2020 and will welcome 100 more this September.

The trust is in the process of preparing an application for a multi-use games area at a nearby site to meet the needs of the school on a permanent basis, but the detailed planning application and construction period will not be completed before mid to late 2022.

As such, the trust proposes a temporary solution to meet the welfare and educational needs of the September 2020 and September 2021 intake of pupils.

The planning application reads: “The play area will be for the use of pupils during school hours and will not be available for community or after-school club use.

“The proposed play area will extend a maximum of 32 metres north to south, and 35 metres east to west.

“The proposed development will provide pupils with safe year-round outdoor play space until a permanent solution is completed.

“Four of six trees within the site will be replanted elsewhere within the wider site, while the remaining two will be retained.”

The area of land is currently being leased out to the Church of England School’s Trust by the University of Bolton.