New £10m specialist school plan at former Wakefield fire control centre set for green light
Wakefield Council’s cabinet members have been asked to approve the redevelopment of the building, which was built in 2010 at a cost of £14m but never used.
Last updated 15th Jul 2026
A £10m scheme to convert a former fire control centre into a school for young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs looks set to be given the green light.
Wakefield Council’s cabinet members have been asked to approve the redevelopment of the building, which was built in 2010 at a cost of £14m but never used.
In April this year, the council announced plans to provide 120 specialist secondary school places at the facility.
Matthew Caton, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This new school will give local children and families access to high-quality education, closer to home.
“Expanding specialist provision in the district is essential to ensure more young people get the support they need to thrive.”
The council plans to use £10m of high needs provision capital allocation funding from the Department for Education to repurpose the site.
This project supports the authority’s broader SEND programme to support families through intervention, improved mainstream inclusion, strengthened specialist provision, and having a responsive local system for children and families.
A council spokesperson said: “Demand for specialist places is rising nationally and councils everywhere are under pressure to find sustainable solutions.
“The new school is part of how the council aims to meet the challenge locally and make a real difference for families.
“Being closer to home will benefit children, families and communities.”
The council also said the project was at an early stage of development with further work needed, including surveys, design work and cost planning.
The facility, at Paragon Business Village, was originally designed to handle 999 calls as part of a centralisation of emergency services.
But it has been vacant since the project was scrapped by the government when it ran over budget and was hit by IT problems.
Cabinet members are expected to approve the proposal at a meeting on July 21.