New £19.3m Motor Vehicle and Engineering Building Unveiled

Bradford College prepares to open advanced training facility

Bradford College is set to open a new Motor Vehicle and Engineering building at its Junction Mills site on Thornton Road this September. The four-storey building, which recently had its scaffolding removed, aims to provide students with skills in modern automotive technologies, digital engineering, electric and hybrid vehicles, and advanced manufacturing.

Funding and construction details

The £19.3 million project was funded primarily through a £17.8 million grant from the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF), with the college contributing £1.5 million. Construction is being carried out by Morgan Sindall Construction, with completion expected by the end of June.

The building’s design focuses on sustainability and low-carbon skills development, reflecting the growing importance of green technologies in the region. It has achieved Morgan Sindall’s platinum certification for carbon savings, with an estimated 473 tonnes of carbon saved during design and construction phases. This includes the use of electric arc furnace (EAF) steel for the structural frame, which alone saved 290 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Facilities and student opportunities

Junction Mills will accommodate up to 650 students, providing access to industry-relevant and cutting-edge equipment. The facility is intended to prepare students for careers in a rapidly evolving sector, particularly focusing on technologies that support a low-carbon economy.

Statements from project leaders

• Pamela Sheldon, Head of Projects at Bradford College, highlighted the significance of the new building in equipping young people with skills for the future and emphasised the sustainability aspects integrated into the construction.
• Ben Hall, Area Director for Yorkshire at Morgan Sindall Construction, noted the collaboration with the college and the importance of the facility in training the next generation of skilled workers in West Yorkshire.

Context within wider college developments

Junction Mills is part of a broader estates strategy at Bradford College, which has secured nearly £32 million in funding over the past two years. Other projects include the Garden Mills facility, which offers digital, science, and allied health training for higher-level students, as well as upgraded T Level training facilities for business, media, catering, and hair and beauty courses.

More information about the college’s ongoing capital projects can be found on their website: www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/capitalprojects.