First Growth Deal funded project in Leeds City Region completed

The first project to be completed as a result of Growth Deal funding from the Leeds City Region saw the refurbishment of a college building in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Saltaire.

Shipley College completed a £388k project to refurbish the Mill Building, which was made possible by a £119k grant from the LEP and West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Local Growth Deal funding.

The grant funding, part of the Skills Capital Programme, went towards investment in improvements to both the physical and IT infrastructure of the college facilities.

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (The LEP) said: “Ensuring students have access to the best possible learning facilities is crucial to supporting skills development and employment prospects.

“Visiting the refurbished college building and meeting some of the students that are benefitting from this investment showed exactly why we are prioritising these infrastructure projects, making learning environments brighter, warmer and ultimately a space for talent to grow and prosper.

“It is particularly pleasing that this is our first Growth Deal funded project to complete, demonstrating the impact of working in partnership to benefit people’s lives and further our economic growth.”

Councillor David Green, Leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee, added: “Bradford has a growing young population and investing in these essential skills and learning environments is important so that we provide the best quality of education for our young people entering the workforce in the future.

“Our Skills Capital programme is helping improve the learning facilities for students across Leeds City Region and this completed project takes us a step closer to achieving our ambition of a ‘NEET-free’ City Region.”

Established in 1854 by Sir Titus Salt, the Grade Two listed Mill Building was in need of investment to improve the infrastructure and learning environment for students. The building provides teaching facilities for a range of students and classes including Maths, English, Art & Design, and Languages.

The Growth Deal funding was used to upgrade facilities including new energy efficient windows and lighting, roof works and the refurbishment of the existing teaching and student space.

Nav Chohan, Shipley College Principal, commented: “The investment from the LEP has not only helped maintain our first class facilities but also allowed us to protect an historic building for another generation.”

Rance Booth Smith Architect worked with Shipley College to develop the Mill Building.

Martyn Booker, project architect from Rance, Booth Smith, concluded: “It was a pleasure to work on and help preserve such a beautiful historic building which provides a vital teaching resource for the college and the local community.”

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