BURNLEY High School is seeking permission to stay at its current base for a further two years ahead of a proposed move to a new site.

The free school, which is currently housed at Parkhill Business Park, is appealing to Burnley Council to be able to occupy the site on a new deal ahead of the current permission expiring at the end of the academic year.

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The Education Funding agency is proposing to finance the school and use the site for the next two years before a move to the former Habergham High School site can be finalised.

If a deal is not done the school could be forced to find a new home as the site would revert to only being used as office space.

Earlier this year plans for the move suffered a setback after a concrete slab under the former Habergham High School covering a mine shaft was discovered to be deteriorating.

The free school, which is run by the Chapel Street family of schools, opened with 33 pupils in September 2014 and is due to grow by around 90 students in September with the possibility of 90 more the following year.

Naomi Kellett of Manchester-based JLL, which is acting as the agent for the application, said in a letter to the council: “On May 30, 2013, the government introduced reforms to the existing planning framework for the change of use for state funding schools.

“The reforms are also designed to support the government’s free schools programmes.

“In recognition of the importance of free schools to the government’s educational objectives, the planning system was reformed to facilitate the creation of free schools by making it easier for free schools’ providers both to find suitable premises and convert buildings into schools without the need to apply for planning permission, which can be a drawn out process.

“The existing building at Parkhill Business Park has been found by the secretary of state for education to constitute a suitable premises for a secondary school.”

It was announced earlier this year that the school, which is housed in half of a business centre in Padiham Road, will expand into half of the disused section of the building, creating four new classrooms, a science lab and showers.

Burnley councillor Charles Briggs, who also serves as one of the school’s governors, said: “There has been some problems at the new site that need to be dealt with.

“That has pushed the whole project back but the school is continuing and is still expanding into more of the business park.

“I also believe that we are oversubscribed for next year which is great news.”