Mill demolished to make way for college centre

Planning permission for the replacement building was approved this week

Work has begun to demolish a Bradford mill to make way for a new state-of-the-art college building.

The Junction Mills building on Thornton Road was once part of Bradford College’s estate, but it has been empty for several years.

Last year, an application was made to flatten the early 20th Century building and replace it with a £17m Future Technologies Centre.

The demolition work was approved earlier this year, with plans for the replacement signed off this week.

Once complete, the college will build a four-storey building which will become the home of modern automotive and digital engineering training at Bradford College, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Despite the building standing within a conservation area, council officers said it was “unexceptional” – and that demolition of the derelict property would not harm the area’s heritage.

The college said the centre “will be vital in supporting the growth of technology and low-carbon skills capability within West Yorkshire".

Vice principal Christopher Malish said: “This is a huge boost for the college but also a transformative investment in Bradford city centre, that also supports the wider city centre development.

"These new facilities are designed to address big societal challenges, enrich our local workforce and showcase a range of inspiring careers."

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