SUCCEEDING BY DEGREES
Burnley’s burning ambition to become a university town took another major step forward at the end of March.
The announcement that the council had acquired the vacant Newtown Mill, on the edge of the town centre signalled the start of the next stage in the masterplan vision.
The purchase, funded through the government’s levelling up programme, will enable the next step of the University of Lancashire’s (UCLan) expansion in Burnley to go ahead.
It means that the local authority and the university can now press ahead with their redevelopment plans to create a thriving canalside campus in the historic Weavers’ Triangle area.
And it follows the expansion of UCLan into the nearby Sandygate Mill last year, accommodating a new campus library and student union space.
The acquisition and redevelopment of the former Newtown Mill, in Queen’s Lancashire Way, will create around 35,000 sq ft of space to accommodate innovative teaching facilities.
There will also be a business/enterprise zone and new public spaces, together with public realm improvements to Sandygate.
The scheme will be delivered through the council’s joint venture with Nelson headquartered development and construction group Barnfield. And as Lancashire Business View went to press a planning application was close to being submitted.
The UCLan campus expansion forms part of Burnley’s Levelling Up Fund programme, which was given the green light last October.
Local companies benefit
from degree apprenticeship courses in areas such as digital, cyber, engineering and management
Professor Graham Baldwin, UCLan vic-chancellor, says: “This is another pivotal and exciting development in our ongoing plans to raise young people’s aspirations in the area, respond to local employers’ skills needs and support the regeneration of Burnley.
“We are grateful for the support from the Levelling-Up Fund and the backing from key partners including Burnley Council, MP Antony Higginbotham and Burnley Bondholders.
“Together with Sandygate Halls, our first student halls of residence, Burnley is rapidly establishing itself as an attractive canalside campus.
“It will mark another key milestone in the drive to transform Burnley into a university town and part of UCLan’s ambitious plans to increase student numbers to 4,000.
It is a good example of how co-operating can work
“We continue to grow our course portfolio to meet the existing and emerging skills needs of Burnley and east Lancashire, developing the next generation of key workers in areas such as medicine, health, nursing, policing and social work.”
He adds: “In addition, Newtown Mill aims to build on our employer engagement strategy so local companies benefit from degree apprenticeship courses in areas such as digital, cyber, engineering and management, as well as access research expertise and business support programmes to improve business competitiveness and innovation.”
Tim Webber, chairman of Barnfield Developments, adds: “We’re really excited to be working on this scheme, which will be a great addition to the work that we have already completed, in partnership with the council, in the Sandygate area.”
Burnley Council secured levelling up investment of £19.9m to bring forward the scheme and other key projects.
The funding will also enable significant environmental improvements to the area between Turf Moor and the town centre, and further upgrades to Manchester Road railway station.
Alongside the council Antony Higginbotham, Burnley’s MP, played a key role in securing the levelling up package.
He believes that the successful funding bid is an example of strong partnership working that is benefiting the town and cutting across political lines, as well as involving the private sector.
He says: “It is a good example of how co-operating can work. It means accepting that people have a different political viewpoint, while still working together to achieve something. For that to happen there must be compromise.”
And he adds: “The Burnley Bondholders group also played is part in bringing people together. I don’t think it would have worked as well without them. They bring in that private sector view.”
LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK
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BURNLEY
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