A TOP performing Islamic school is set for a new home in Blackburn.

The Tauheedul Education Trust is in the process of putting together a planning application for an 800 pupil free school in Sumner Street, Blackburn.

Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School, which attracts students from across East Lancashire, has been housed on a temporary site in Shadsworth Road since it opened in 2012.

Now plans have been unveiled for its permanent home.

School bosses hope the site will become an ‘impressive gateway’ to the town.

The award winning school, which was rated third in the country for progress made by students last year, will also open a new 200-space sixth form.

It was due to open in 2018 but the plans were postponed until it found a permanent home.

Facilities will include a school building and gym, car parking, playing fields and a multi-use games area.

The site chosen is a former abattoir and cattle markets that have been demolished and have been derelict for several years.

Mo Isap, chairman of governors at TIBHS, said: “The proposed site is in a prominent location, close to the impressive Wainwright Bridge and the vibrant Blackburn College campus.

“Tauheedul’s aim is for the new TIBHS campus to become an impressive gateway into our town.

“We want it to embody the spirit of leadership, entrepreneurship and creativity which have long been associated with Blackburn and which are the hallmarks of a Tauheedul education.

“We’re excited by the opportunity the new campus will give us for developing the next generation of leaders for businesses across the borough and beyond.”

Principal Mubaaruck Ibrahim said: “As one of the top schools in the country for both results and progress, we have achieved so much operating out of our temporary site. A brand new, modern facility would allow everyone at TIBHS to build on these successes to the benefit of all our pupils and communities.”

Pupil numbers will stay the same with provision for 600 year seven to 11 students and 200 sixth formers.

Documents assessing the environmental impact of the site, which is being developed by Wates Construction, said it would not be of an ‘inappropriate scale’ to the site and surrounding context as it was previously developed land.

They said it would also not have a severe impact on the highway network.