Creating a campus to be proud of
6:33am Monday 24th March 2008
With phase one of Bradford College's new campus almost completed at the former McMillan Halls in Trinity Road and set to add to the regeneration of that part of Bradford, it is good to learn that an application has already been submitted to the Learning and Skills Council for funding for phase two. Let's hope that it receives its blessing.
Principal and chief executive Michele Sutton is right to describe this as an exciting time for Bradford College, which she says is already one of the UK's leading establishments of its kind. But it is more than that. It is an exciting time for Bradford which, if the scheme goes ahead, will see a £120 million new campus site created where the Westbrook Building, Randall Well Building and Alexandra car park are currently situated. This will bring the college's presence even closer to the city centre. It will also, by making the vocational areas accessible by the public, create stronger links between the college and the community.
This development can only be good for that part of Bradford. An even more impressive, successful college will attract even more students, not just from the local area but from other parts of the country. That will benefit Bradford's reputation and give a major boost to the businesses around the college.
Through its college and university, Bradford has made quite a name for itself over the years in the world of further education. This plan can only make it even more of a place to be proud of.