September 21, 2009
The Learning and Skills Council has approved funding for Strategic Sites Limited’s development of the new Kirklees College (KC) in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. This will provide the lynchpin for the Huddersfield Waterfront Quarter Regeneration Scheme.
The approval completes a £73m funding package that will provide a brand new 260,000 sq ft campus for KC. This will be joined by 190,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, 309 new homes, leisure facilities, restaurants and improved public realm with a new public square on a six acre (2.4 hectare) site near the town centre.
Strategic Sites Ltd aims to complete the first stage of the enabling works, which includes demolition of existing buildings, by the end of 2009 and begin building work on the main college campus at the beginning of 2010.
The project will also open up the Huddersfield Narrow Canal which currently runs under the site to create a waterway which will also serve to provide cooling water for the college building. This means that for the first time in living history, the public will be able to access the river and canal side footpaths in this part of Huddersfield.
Paul Barber, Chief Executive of Strategic Sites said “The funding from the LSC is a major milestone in the regeneration of Huddersfield. Strategic Sites has worked closely with Kirklees College, Kirklees Council and Yorkshire Forward to get to this stage, and we look forward to delivering one of the few regeneration projects to start in the region for a long time.”
Strategic Sites’ lead architects are DLG Architects and its property advisers are Dove Haigh Phillips.
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