Consent was secured in autumn to convert the 20,000 sq ft Vision House into a special educational needs and disabilities learning facility, leading to the deal with Witherslack Group.
The Manchester property, on a self-contained 2.4-acre site within Roundthorn Industrial Estate, was sold for an undisclosed sum to Cumbria-based Witherslack, which operates 38 schools across the country
Vision House was previously home to Maginus Software but has been vacant since the company moved out in 2023, following a merger.
Hurstwood Holdings said that it recognised that its asset’s fundamentals made it a strong candidate to meet the requirements of SEND education, having also identified local need for that provision, leading it to a speculative application for redevelopment.
The planning application to change the building’s use was submitted in July of last year and granted within just six weeks.
The building benefits from a secure site with private access, green space, and ample car parking.
Sam Ashworth, project director at Hurstwood Holdings, said: “There is an urgent and growing need for SEND school places across Greater Manchester. Recognising this gap, we were proactive in securing planning permission to repurpose this former office building and provide much-needed space for a new SEND school.”
Ashworth added that more could follow from the property group: “We are now exploring further similar opportunities both within and outside our existing portfolio to create further, much needed SEND schools nationally.”
Planning advisor Broadgrove took the application through the planning process last summer, working with a professional team including ArchitectFolk, Jameson Acoustics, SK Transport, Williams Sillitoe, PG Consulting, and NoiseAir. Manchester City Council’s planning reference number for the project is 143385/FO/2025.
