A multi-million pound specialist autism school is nearing completion.

The single storey facility for Newfield School on the former Crosshill School site was approved in July 2016 and is now expected to be completed by the middle of May.

The school, which will feature a sensory space, will be furnished and ready for use from September.

Executive member for schools and education, Cllr Dave Harling, said: “The local authority capital programme has paved the way for a new build and extensive landscaping for Newfield School on the former Crosshill School site.

“A brand new single storey autism specialist facility for teaching will feature a sensory space, multi-use areas, hall and kitchen facilities, which will be linked through a corridor back into the existing Newfield school.

“The anticipated completion date for the work is 11th May 2018 with the school being furnished and commissioned ready for use from September 2018 following the £5.6m investment.”

The centre is set to offer 22 new places for pupils with autism and incorporate the existing 38 at the school.

Demand for specialist educational support for children on the ASD spectrum had increased since 2000 due to improvements in diagnosis of the condition.

The unit will tackle a shortfall in the council’s provision for children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

The school has been designed with a ‘Cluster’ approach where all services are close to each other.

There are three main clusters catering for early years and primary, mid years junior and secondary and post-16 and high dependency.

The multi-million pound autism centre with space for 60 children and 40 staff was approved by Blackburn with Darwen Council in July 2016.

The 10-classroom building, which was originally estimated to cost £4.3million, will be run by staff at Newfield Specialist School and has been built on the former Crosshill School site opposite Shadsworth Leisure Centre in Old Bank Lane.