Key Points
- The Trafford Council has appointed Tilbury Douglas as the lead consultant at the early stage of development of an extension plan for North Cestrian School in Altrincham.
- The proposed extension could provide up to 300 more secondary school places by utilizing the current Loreto Preparatory School on the neighboring Dunham Road.
- Tilbury Douglas will be working within the Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) as the project goes from design to the construction phase.
- Trafford Council stated that it purchased the site of the former Loreto Prep, with the statement made back in July; however, the Altrincham Today stated that the council’s announcement was made in August.
- The proposed extension will provide up to 60 additional places in each year, which means two additional classes in each year.
- Currently, a feasibility study is being conducted, and the council has already stated that the additional places could be available from September 2027 and completed permanently by September 2028.
- It is planned that the project will be funded by the capital grant from the Department for Education.
- There have been no statements by the Trafford Council about the construction schedule and the opening of new places.
Altrincham (Manchester Mirror) October 12, 2026 — Plans to create up to 300 additional secondary school places at North Cestrian School in Altrincham have moved a significant step forward after Trafford Council appointed construction and infrastructure firm Tilbury Douglas to lead the early stages of the expansion.
As reported by Altrincham Today, the contractor has been appointed under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement to work with Trafford Council, Hamblin Education Trust and the design team as the scheme develops ahead of construction. The Messenger Newspapers reported that Tilbury Douglas will deliver the project under the PCSA, guiding it through design and into construction.
The proposed expansion would use the former Loreto Preparatory School site, which sits next to North Cestrian School on Dunham Road. Trafford Council says the site was bought to help meet demand for secondary school places in Altrincham.
What Has Been Announced?
Trafford Council announced on October 8 that Tilbury Douglas had been appointed for the school expansion scheme. The company is described by the council and local reporting as a UK building, fit-out, engineering and infrastructure business.
The appointment does not mean construction has begun. Instead, it covers the pre-construction phase, during which the contractor, council, trust and designers are expected to develop the design, assess delivery requirements and prepare the scheme for the construction stage.
As reported by Altrincham Today, the council has not yet announced a timetable for construction or when the additional school places are expected to become available.
How Many Places Could Be Created?
The proposal would allow North Cestrian School to accommodate up to 300 additional pupils. Trafford Council documents describe this as an expansion of 60 places per year group, or up to 300 places overall.
Trafford Council’s April announcement said the expansion would create two more classes in each year group at the academy. The school is operated by Hamblin Education Trust and is in its 10th year as a free school.
The former Loreto Preparatory School site is approximately three acres. Trafford Council said in April that it was progressing the purchase of the Dunham Road site to enable the expansion. The council later confirmed that it had bought the site, according to its August announcement.
Why Is the Expansion Planned?
Trafford Council says the scheme is intended to help meet rising demand for secondary school places in the area. The council’s earlier decision report described the Loreto site as the only viable way of expanding secondary school provision in the south of the borough, because land availability there is very limited.
The council’s Executive Committee agreed to the expansion plan in Spring 2024, with the project set to be funded by a capital grant from the Department for Education. Altrincham Today reported that the acquisition was funded through a Department for Education capital grant.
The expansion follows Trafford Council’s recent success in securing 76 additional secondary places in the Sale and Altrincham areas for 2026, along with 85 more across other parts of Trafford.
What Have Council Leaders Said?
Cllr George Devlin, Trafford Council’s executive member for babies, children and young people, welcomed the appointment of Tilbury Douglas. As reported by The Messenger Newspapers, he said: “I am delighted that the project has moved on swiftly with the appointment of Tilbury Douglas on the PCSA phase of the scheme.”
He added: “This is an excellent project which will help make sure more of our local children can go to an Altrincham school and get them the best start in life – one of our main corporate priorities.”
Cllr Tom Ross, leader of Trafford Council, thanked those working on the scheme. As reported by The Messenger Newspapers, he said: “We are totally committed to the education of our young people and this scheme will mean more secondary school places in Altrincham.”
He also said: “This is majorly important and our schools are, quite rightly, extremely popular.”
What Has the School Trust Said?
Tim Gartside, chief executive of the Hamblin Education Trust, said the trust had shared Trafford Council’s vision that the former Loreto Prep School site should remain in educational use for Altrincham children. As reported by The Messenger Newspapers, he said: “From the beginning, we have shared with Trafford Council the vision of ensuring that the former Loreto Prep School site should remain as a site for the education of Altrincham children.”
He added: “As North Cestrian School begins its 10th year as a free school, we look forward to working with the Council during this exciting phase of growth so that all children from Altrincham can attend a local and highly successful school.”
What Has the Contractor Said?
Kabir Salihi, regional director for the North West at Tilbury Douglas, said the company would use its experience to develop a practical solution for the school. As reported by The Messenger Newspapers, he said the company would deliver a “thoughtful, deliverable solution that creates much-needed secondary school places”.
Altrincham Today quoted Mr Salihi as saying that, during the PCSA phase, Tilbury Douglas would work closely with the council, trust and design team to develop the scheme and support the school’s next stage of growth.
What Happens Next?
A feasibility study is under way for the expansion. Trafford Council previously said additional places were expected to be added from September 2027, with completion of the permanent expansion currently estimated for September 2028.
However, the latest reporting states that the council has not yet confirmed a construction timetable or an opening date for the new places. The PCSA phase is therefore the current stage of the project, rather than the start of building work.
Background of the Development
Loreto Preparatory School closed in July 2023 after its trustees judged that it was no longer financially viable, according to the Manchester Evening News. Trafford Council subsequently identified the adjacent site as a potential way to expand North Cestrian School.
In March 2026, Trafford Council confirmed that it was progressing the purchase of the former Loreto Prep site, subject to due diligence. The council said the purchase would be funded through a Department for Education capital grant.
The council announced in August that it had completed the purchase of the site. It said the acquisition would support a proposed expansion of North Cestrian School and create up to 300 additional places.
Earlier council planning documents show that North Cestrian School had previously been considered for a smaller expansion of 150 places, or 30 per year group, but that the existing site was described as very tight and the cost was considered prohibitive. The acquisition of the Loreto site enabled a larger proposed expansion from five to seven forms of entry.
Prediction: What It Means for Altrincham Families
For Altrincham parents and carers, the development could increase the likelihood of securing a local secondary school place in future years. If the scheme proceeds as planned, North Cestrian School could offer up to 300 more places, with two additional classes in each year group.
The immediate effect is likely to be limited while the feasibility, design and pre-construction work continues. The council has previously indicated that the first additional places could be available from September 2027, with the permanent expansion estimated for completion by September 2028, although no construction timetable has been confirmed in the latest announcement.
For pupils already at North Cestrian, the expansion could mean changes to the school site and facilities as the former Loreto Prep site is brought into use. For the wider community, the project keeps the former preparatory school site in educational use rather than allowing it to be developed for another purpose.
For Trafford Council, the appointment of Tilbury Douglas represents progress on a scheme intended to address secondary school place pressure in Altrincham and Sale. The next key milestones will be the completion of the PCSA phase, any planning application, confirmation of a construction programme and clarification of when the first additional places will open.
