An independent religious school is set to move to the former Barclays call centre in Northwich after new plans were approved.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has rubber-stamped an application by Mereside Educational Trust – a subsidiary of OneSchool Global – to move its existing operation into new premises at Osbourne Court in Gadbrook Park, reports the Northwich Guardian.

OneSchool Global was established by members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and has more than 120 campuses in 20 countries. It has operated a school for pupils aged seven to 18 at the Grade II-listed Hartford Manor after planning permission was granted in 2019. But bosses now want to create a ‘better quality teaching space’ with a move to new premises.

In new planning documents, OneSchool Global said that vacating its existing site would leave it available to be occupied by a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school, which it said had already expressed an interest.