£7m construction boost at Hopwood Hall College

Artist’s impression of the new Hopwood Hall College build

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After three years of planning, Hopwood Hall College has received the green light to build a new £7m construction and engineering centre at the Middleton campus.

The scheme was approved by the Learning and Skills Council, who is part funding the scheme with a £3.8m grant; the remaining sum will come via a bank loan.

Seven Architecture, the firm behind the new Sixth Form College, will lead on the design.

The scheme has the support of key stakeholders who recognise the importance of educational and skills provision for the borough.

Construction work is expected to commence in September 2010 with completion expected July 2011.

Demolition of existing low rise residential blocks will commence in March.

The existing low rise construction and engineering block at Rochdale campus, on College Road, will be demolished in September 2011 to make way for a car park, providing the much needed breathing space to resolve parking, pedestrian movement and entrance constraints that currently hinder the town centre campus and impact on local residents.

Saf Arfan, Director for Corporate Services, said: “The governors and staff have placed a huge effort in developing the business case for this scheme, in a climate of uncertainly and risk. The former and grander scheme was shelved due to budget cuts, which was a major set-back, but the College persisted and finally achieved a result. This is excellent news and will boost two of our key curriculum areas: construction and engineering.”