Construction begins on Seashell Trust £22 million college building

Contractors, Eric Wright Construction, have begun work on a £22 million college building for Seashell Trust on its Cheadle Hulme campus.

The building will house education facilities for Royal College Manchester students aged 16-25 for the charity, which provides support and education for young people with complex disabilities. Development follows the opening of the Moulding Foundation Building in 2023 for younger students.

The building replaces an existing building at the site which were not adequate to meet the accessibility requirements of staff and students to enable them to move around freely. New facilities to be housed in the 55,000 sq ft Royal College Manchester building include a reception, specialist classrooms, sports and administration facilities, a cafe, activity hall, extended climbing wall, fitness suite and sensory integration room.

James Eager, director lead from Eric Wright Construction, said:

“We’re really pleased to have started on the delivery of this superb new college building which will really enhance the lives of the students and staff alike. The building has gone through a painstaking design and review process in collaboration with the trust’s teaching team, with every element of its design tailored to meet the needs of the students.”   

Brandon Leigh, chief executive at Seashell, added:

“Watching the building finally start to take shape is exciting and we can’t wait to see students and staff enjoying the building very soon. The new college building will mean improved accessibility for students and will be much better at meeting the needs of the young adults with complex disabilities who come to Seashell. Seeing the building complete will be a monumental point in our history.”

Construction on the Royal College Manchester building is due to complete in Autumn 2025, with funding coming in part from the sale of land belonging to Seashell Trust being developed for housing. A groundbreaking ceremony took place earlier this year, attended by HRH Princess Sophie.