A decision is due on an application for a religious school for up to 200 students to be built on a 6,000sq/m site in Bolton.

The Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Foundation is applying for planning permission for the site on Dinsdale Drive.

According to the application for a religious school for up 200 students, it would be built using two temporary teaching blocks used up until now by Kings Leadership Academy in Great Lever.

There would be more than a dozen classrooms including two classrooms for children with special educational needs (SEN) across the two temporary teaching blocks as well as a state-of-the-art Sports Hub.

The 6,000sq/m site was a car park but it is out of use for more than 20 years and it is a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour according to Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Foundation.

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They said: "Our ambition is to provide an independent school on the site with out of hours facilities for children with special educational needs (SEN). Also providing local residents with access to local services.

"The foundation plans on transforming the site into a thriving hub of education and engagement."

(Image: Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Foundation) A report said a residential use is the priority for the site but in light of "a lack of any planning proposals" another, non-residential use is a possibility for the site too.

Bolton Council children's services are supportive of the application, as are a number of residents, and the recommendation is to approve the application when the planning committee is at the town hall next week.

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Paul Rankin, the deputy director of children's services, said: "The proposal is to provide education provision for up to 200 children capable of supporting those with SEN. 

"The site of the school is within an area of high pupil place demand and the council welcomes opportunities to provide education provision for those children who require it."

The planning committee will be at the town hall on Thursday, October 3.

For information about the foundation go to hsmzf.org.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.