Dudley Council is set to save approximately £1 million each year through a new lease agreement for the Unicorn Centre, a facility dedicated to supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The council’s Cabinet Member for Development and Regulation, Councillor Daniel Bevan, has signed a draft decision to extend the lease on the Unicorn Centre. Previously declared surplus and scheduled for disposal in 2025, the centre was valued at around £600,000 for sale. However, the council has agreed to lease the building to The Briar Special School for about £48,000 annually.
Initially, the lease was set for two years. Following The Briar Special School’s incorporation into the Ascent Multi Academy Trust, a new 25-year lease has been proposed to secure the centre’s future use.
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The Unicorn Centre is planned to offer up to 40 places for high-needs children, which would otherwise cost the council at least £27,000 per pupil annually if they were placed in the private sector. Additionally, the council anticipates further savings on transport costs, as the centre enables more local placements, reducing the need for travel to distant schools.
Documentation from the 2025 lease decision highlights the centre’s suitability, noting, “The Unicorn Centre is well-equipped currently, having been used by adult social care and retaining the hoists and other equipment that will be usable by the school.”
It also emphasises how the proposal aligns with the council’s strategies to support children and young people with SEND. An initial cohort of 11 pupils at the Briar/Unicorn is expected to save the council approximately £645,000 annually compared to placements in the independent special school sector. Furthermore, around 20 additional pupils currently attending Wenlock, an independent school with average charges of £70,000, could benefit from local provision at the centre.
In November 2025, Councillor Wayne Little, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, addressed the council’s consultation on the centre’s future, stating: “We are currently in a position as a council where we don’t have enough capacity to meet the demand with regards to helping children with special educational needs.
“As a result, the council has to fund expensive places in independent schools, often outside the borough, as well as covering the travel costs.
“This satellite site has already been running successfully as a trial for the past few months with a reduced capacity, providing real benefits for children and parents.”
Through this strategic lease extension, Dudley Council aims to enhance local special educational provision while achieving substantial financial savings for taxpayers.