Bradford College hits steel frame milestone

The £17m, four-storey Junction Mills building is being constructed by Morgan Sindall and will house the automotive department.

Funded with £15m from the Department for Education Further Education Capital Transformation Fund and £2m from the college, it is part of the almost £40m in funding that the college has secured over the last three years.

Located on Thornton Road, when complete in 2026 it will offer specialist training in motor vehicle, advanced electrical, hybrid, and hydrogen technologies.

The framework comprises a total of 232 tonnes of steel, including two nine-tonne beams that support the first-floor workshop area, with precast elements such as the lift shafts and stairs manufactured off-site using modern methods of construction.

As well as using MMC techniques, other sustainability credentials on the project include undertaking a review of the steel frame design that resulted in decreased steel and concrete use, which will lead to a 56-tonne reduction in CO2e.

• BOOK NOW | West Yorkshire Development Update

Work on the cladding and internal walls will save a further 126 tonnes, which, combined, is the equivalent of heating 67 UK homes for a year.

The next steps for the project include the metal decking and concrete floor slab works.

Other recent Bradford College projects include the renovation of Garden Mills, made possible by £5.8m funding from The Office for Students Higher Education Capital Fund.

Pamela Sheldon, Bradford College Head of Projects, said: “With space for up to 650 students, this new facility represents a significant leap in how we equip young people with the skills needed for a low-carbon economy.

“It is also fitting that a building dedicated to low-carbon skills should be constructed with sustainability at its core.”