Topping-out ceremony marks milestone in £19.3m Junction Mills project
Bradford College has marked a key milestone in its £19.3m Junction Mills redevelopment with a topping-out ceremony attended by governors, staff, and students. The event celebrated the installation of the highest point of the building’s structure, signalling progress toward the opening of a state-of-the-art skills facility in 2026.
Funded by £17.8m from the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF) and a £1.5m contribution from the College, the four-storey Junction Mills development is being delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction. Once complete, it will serve as a skills hub for training in automotive, digital, and engineering disciplines.
Future-ready skills hub
Junction Mills will house the College’s Automotive and Digital Engineering Department, relocating from Bowling Back Lane. The Centre is expected to host up to 650 students, offering specialist training in electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Stephen Smith, Head of Engineering & Motor Vehicle at Bradford College, said: “This is a huge step forward. Our new hi-tech training facility will mirror modern workshops, giving students the hands-on experience and confidence they need for future careers.”
Sustainability achievements
The Junction Mills project has already gained recognition for sustainability in construction. Morgan Sindall awarded it a platinum standard for carbon savings, the first such recognition in Yorkshire.
To date, 182 tonnes of carbon have been saved during construction—equivalent to the annual heating of 67 UK homes. This milestone reflects both low-carbon building practices and environmental innovation.
Dan Marsh, Project Manager at Morgan Sindall, praised the collaboration: “Bradford College and Morgan Sindall have formed an excellent partnership, working tirelessly to deliver on time, on budget, and with exceptional quality standards.”
Community and governance support
During the ceremony, Level 2 Motor Vehicle students toured the Thornton Road site, signed the steel frame, and joined Vice Principal Chris Malish in the symbolic topping-out ritual.
Governors shared their enthusiasm. Independent Governor Barbara Mangan said: “The tour brought the structure to life. I can’t wait to see the completed skills centre ready to welcome students.” Fellow Governor Billy Khokhar added: “This is going to be a cutting-edge learning environment and an asset for future teaching and training.”
Building an estates strategy
The Junction Mills redevelopment forms part of Bradford College’s estates strategy to modernise learning environments and strengthen regional economic growth. Over the past two years, the College has secured nearly £32m in funding for infrastructure upgrades.
Alongside Junction Mills, projects include the Garden Mills building refurbishment, which opened in 2024 for higher education STEM students. As construction moves to its next phase—watertightness works, window installation, and brickwork completion—the College is preparing to deliver a low-carbon skills hub that will train students for the industries of tomorrow.
