Co-op Academy Belle Vue is a co-educational secondary school on Hyde Road, created to serve its 1,200 students while offering a welcoming presence for the wider community. The school occupies the site of the former Belle Vue Zoological Gardens and the later Showcase Cinema, reconnecting the location with its surrounding neighbourhood.
Overview
Commissioned by Manchester City Council and the Co-operative Academies Trust, Co-op Academy Belle Vue forms part of a wider commitment to delivering inclusive, high-quality education across Greater Manchester. Planning approval was secured within eight weeks of engagement, allowing the £25 million development to progress efficiently on its 12-acre brownfield site. The scheme comprises a three-storey main school, a separate teaching wing, a drama block, and a two-storey sports building, supported by two playing fields and a multi-use games area for both pupils and the wider community. Guided by principles of education and community engagement, the design arranges teaching and performance spaces along a central “street” that connects the library, dining hall, and community facilities, creating a clear and connected plan that supports daily movement and shared use.
- Year 2022
- Location Manchester
- Client Manchester City Council & Co-operative Academies Trust
- Project Sectors Education
Design Approach
The design develops Department for Education baseline models into a solution tailored to the academy’s teaching approach and community role. A standardised structural and services strategy supports efficient construction and long-term adaptability, while clear circulation and daylighting create a sense of orientation throughout. Teaching spaces, performance areas, and communal facilities are interconnected by a wide internal route that facilitates movement and visibility between activities. Classrooms are positioned to balance privacy and connection, and specialist spaces such as the auditorium and sports hall open directly from the main spine to allow for independent use outside school hours. Externally, the layout provides secure and well-defined zones for learning, recreation, and sport, with the building’s scale and material character designed to sit comfortably within its urban surroundings.
“The team at SPACE were really impressive in the way they took time to listen to our requirements, refine the design, and provide credible advice and guidance, all while ensuring that the project remained on track, on time, and within the requirements of the framework.”
Steve Brice
Executive Headteacher
Co-operative Academies Trust
Result
Since opening in 2022, Co-op Academy Belle Vue has become an active part of its community. The building accommodates a full student cohort and a growing programme of extracurricular and local activities. Its layout has proved adaptable, with community spaces, sports facilities, and performance areas used beyond the school day. Staff describe a calm and purposeful environment, supported by daylight, openness, and clear organisation. The project delivered measurable social value and continues to serve as a model for collaborative delivery within the Department for Education framework. Co-op Academy Belle Vue stands as an exceptional educational facility that reflects the Co-op Academies Trust’s teaching ethos.
People
Focusing on reflecting the wider communityThe design of Co-op Academy Belle Vue was shaped by the people who now bring it to life each day. From the earliest stages, the project centred on understanding how pupils learn, how staff teach, and how the wider community could share in the facilities. The completed school continues to offer pupils a setting where support and opportunity go hand in hand.
“This facility represented not just bricks and mortar, but an investment in the future of our students and community. It allowed our pupils access to the latest resources and technology and provided an inspiring and dynamic environment for learning.”
Scott Fletcher
Head of Co-op Academy Belle Vue
Planet
Locally sourced for efficiency and adaptabilityEnvironmental performance was considered from the earliest stages. Carbon-reduction strategies addressed both operational and embodied emissions, and efficient construction methods minimised waste. Locally sourced materials and a cut-and-fill approach reduced transport impacts, while daylighting strategies lessen reliance on artificial lighting. Electric charging points support sustainable commuting, and the building’s standardised systems allow for energy-efficient operation and future adaptability.
Place
Breathing life back into a neighbouring landmark
Co-op Academy Belle Vue stands on a site layered with local history. Once home to the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens and later a cinema, it was a place of gathering and shared experience for generations. The academy continues that story, returning life and purpose to a landmark location on Hyde Road. Its glazed community spaces open towards the street, reinstating a sense of civic presence and connection. Through its material character, considered scale, and landscaped surroundings, the school now sits firmly within the rhythm of its neighbourhood: an investment in the place itself and in the families and communities who use it every day.
Credits
- Design Team Paul Broadfoot
