WORK has begun on a £500,000 hydrotherapy pool at a specialist school.

Delamere Special School in Flixton received planning permission for an extension to house the pool on March 25 this year and replace its existing ‘outdated’ facilities.

The school, in Irlam Road, is a community maintained specialist primary with places for 80 children. Its new pool will be paid for by Trafford Council using cash from the Department for Education’s Special Educational Needs funding.

The new facilities include a level deck pool and improved changing facilities for wheelchair users and other swimmers. They will be available to students at the school at all times and to the community at weekends.

Cllr Catherine Hynes, deputy leader of Trafford council and executive member for children’s services, said: “Trafford council is committed to the health and wellbeing of residents across the borough and, of course, that includes our young people.

“This scheme is absolutely superb and will provide young people with a fantastic new hydrotherapy pool and amazing new changing facilities.

“We want the young people at Delamere Special School to have the facilities they need for their health and wellbeing. The coronavirus epidemic has held up work but I am delighted that we are now ready to go."

Bowker Sadler Architects are working on the facilities in partnership with Seddons Construction. The new facility is expected to be open for pupils by January 2021.