Plans in for 90,000 sq ft college at Thorpe Park Leeds

Scarborough Group International, through Thorpe Park Developments, is bringing forward the four-storey facility in partnership with Delta Academies Trust.

The proposed college would significantly increase Delta’s post-16 capacity in East Leeds, with the trust planning to relocate its existing sixth-form provision from Garforth Academy to the purpose-built campus.

Subject to planning permission and approval from the Department for Education, capacity would increase from around 400 students at Garforth Academy to up to 1,000 places at Thorpe Park.

The planning application has been submitted to Leeds City Council by Zerum on behalf of Thorpe Park Developments, with the wider project team including AHR as architect, Mosodi as transport planning consultant, BWF as cost consultant, Buro Happold as engineer, Ares as landscape architect, and Willmott Dixon as contractor.

Subject to planning and the necessary Department for Education approvals, the new college is targeting an opening in autumn 2028.

The relocation would also release space at Garforth Academy for its 11-16 provision, allowing facilities currently used for post-16 education to be repurposed.

The planning application comes amid growing demand for post-16 education provision in Leeds. The city’s current Year 11 population of 8,714 is projected to rise to 10,015 by 2028/29, according to ONS data cited by the project team.

The proposed college would offer A Levels alongside technical and vocational courses, including T Levels and future V-Level qualifications.

Its location within Thorpe Park would also place students alongside an established business community comprising more than 100 businesses and around 7,500 employees and would form part of the wider development, alongside existing employment, retail, leisure and green space.

Students would have access to The Springs retail and leisure centre and the 150-acre Green Park, while Leeds City Council is also planning its Park Life sports hub nearby.

Thorpe Park is currently served by road, bus, walking and cycling routes and longer-term transport connectivity will be improved by proposals being advanced by West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail for a new railway station at Thorpe Park.

The planning submission follows a public consultation held over the summer, and according to the development team, 68.5% of respondents supported the proposals, with feedback helping to inform the design submitted to Leeds City Council.

No construction timetable or project value has yet been announced.

The submission forms part of the next phase of growth at Thorpe Park Leeds. Over the last 25 years, more than 1m sq ft of workspace has been delivered alongside The Springs retail and leisure destination and 300 homes.

The masterplan envisages Thorpe Park growing to more than 2.8m sq ft, with further office, industrial and logistics, hospitality, leisure, and residential development planned.

Adam Varley, development director at Scarborough Group International, said: “There’s something really compelling about giving young people the opportunity to take their next step in a place like Thorpe Park.

“They would be surrounded by businesses of all sizes and sectors, seeing first-hand the breadth of careers available to them and, importantly, having opportunities to build those connections before they leave post-16 education.

“For the businesses already here, and those we hope to attract in the future, there’s an equally exciting opportunity to engage with emerging talent, share skills and experience, and help young people understand where their studies could take them. That relationship has the potential to be incredibly valuable on both sides.

“Submitting the planning application brings that vision a step closer. It would also introduce something completely new to Thorpe Park, adding to the mix of people and uses here and bringing another generation into the life of the Park.

“We’ve had some really constructive feedback through the consultation and I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to get involved. We’ll continue that dialogue as the application moves forward.”

Andy Barnett, chief executive at Delta Academies Trust, said: “The submission of this planning application represents an exciting milestone in our plans to establish Thorpe Park College and provide more high-quality educational opportunities for young people in Leeds.

“At Delta Academies Trust, we are committed to creating ambitious, inclusive learning environments where every young person can achieve their full potential. Thorpe Park College is a significant investment in the future of local families, providing students with an inspiring setting in which to learn, grow and prepare for the opportunities ahead.”