A further £2.8 million has been awarded to Bradford College to enhance the existing £49 million funding to create a new state-of-the-art facility.

The Skills Funding Agency has announced that the college has been awarded the funding to renovate its historic Lister Building, next to the main college new build.

The money will see the college build an extension at the complex which will house a library, a cafe and an exhibition space.

The 101-year-old building will also undergo a major internal refurbishment to allow disabled access throughout, along with a refurbished kitchen and learning spaces.

Andy Welsh, the college’s vice principal for corporate services, said: “Demand for this particular fund was extremely high, we were up against 117 applications requesting more than £200 million and so for Bradford to be awarded the money is a great endorsement of our new build project. We need to modernise and update the space to meet new teaching and learning needs, reduce energy usage and offer the best facilities to our students.”

The building was originally developed as a purpose-build teaching facility, concentrating on the textile industry, but has also housed the School of Art for a number of decades.

Mr Welsh said it was an exciting time for the college.

He said: “We have got a new build on site at the minute and this additional project will be completed at the same time in summer of 2014.

“It will really enhance the experience of the students at the college, they will really get a state of the art education facility to study in, so we are terribly excited about it and in the meantime it’s obviously contributing to the regeneration of Bradford with the employment prospects it brings to contractors and sub-contractors.

“And while we are on site we are using the project to get students first-hand experience and involvement with the construction industry.”

“The investment will be a huge boon to the college and the community, helping boost apprenticeships, work experience and engaging all ages and walks of life, giving wider access to the life-affirming offer of education.”