Bradford College converts derelict mill in £7m project
Refurbishment has completed on Garden Mills, which is now a digital, science, and allied health training facility.
Contractor Tilbury Douglas led the project, installing six digital IT labs, an ophthalmic dispensing suite, a prep room, a clinical suite, a real-life work environment with consulting and testing booths, a collaboration area, and academic teaching spaces.
Situated on Thornton Road, the development received £5.8m in funding from the Office for Students (OfS) Higher Education Capital Fund and a £1.1m contribution from the college.
The five-storey building was originally constructed in the 1900s and is the first of several projects on the college campus to complete.
Over the last two years, Bradford College has secured close to £32m in funding for refurbishment schemes, including projects such as new vocational T Level facilities, and the purpose-build Future Technologies Centre.
The vocational T Level facilities in David Hockney Building are being overseen by Sewell Construction and funded by £3.5m from the Department for Education.
Set to complete in autumn, the project will create a commercial barbering salon, nail bar, collaborative lecture spaces, TV studio, media editing and recording studios, and a remodel of The Grove training restaurant.
Work on the college’s purpose-built Future Technologies Centre is under way, with phase one led by contractor Morgan Sindall.
This new site will support the growth of technology and low-carbon skills capability within West Yorkshire, such as electric/hybrid vehicles and advanced manufacturing.
The college’s Automotive, Digital and Engineering Department will relocate to the new premises, which is due to complete in 2025/2026.
The project received a £15m investment from the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF), and a £2m college contribution.
Christopher Malish, vice principal finance & corporate services, said: “Seeing Garden Mills return to life has been extremely rewarding. This new facility will enhance the student experience, create more graduate opportunities, and counter regional skills shortages in STEM-related sectors.”
