Planning consent secured in the autumn to convert the 20,000 sq ft Vision House into a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) facility has enabled its sale to Witherslack Group.

The Manchester building, on a self-contained 2.4-acre plot within Roundthorn Industrial Estate, has been sold for an undisclosed sum to Cumbria-based Witherslack, which operates 38 schools nationwide.

Vision House was formerly occupied by Maginus Software but has been vacant since the company relocated in 2023 following a merger.

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Hurstwood Holdings said the asset's fundamentals and identified local demand made it well suited to SEND provision, prompting a speculative change-of-use application. Submitted in July last year, the bid was approved in just six weeks. The site offers secure, private access alongside green space and ample parking.

Sam Ashworth, project director at Hurstwood Holdings, said: "There is an urgent and growing need for SEND school places across Greater Manchester. Recognising this gap, we were proactive in securing planning permission to repurpose this former office building and provide much-needed space for a new SEND school."

Planning advisor Broadgrove led the submission through the process last summer, working with a professional team including ArchitectFolk, Jameson Acoustics, SK Transport, Williams Sillitoe, PG Consulting and NoiseAir.