Tilbury Douglas will lead the Garden Mills Refurbishment Project on behalf of Bradford College. The contractor has promised to deliver a cutting-edge higher education facility
As part of the Garden Mills Refurbishment Project, a five-storey building from the 1900s will redevelop.
The goal is to convert it into versatile higher education facilities for STEM training focused on digital, science, and health subjects.
This project was secured through the Procure Partnerships framework. The work will include replacing windows, refurbishing the building’s structure, and upgrading and replacing the lifts.
As well as installing new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, ensuring compliance with regulations, and selective demolition.
The Garden Mills Refurbishment Project will focus on clean energy
Bradford College was one of few recipients to be awarded the maximum amount of £5.8m from the Garden Mills Refurbishment Project. The planning application outlines the refurbishment of the building, including an enclosure specifically designed for air source heat pumps.
These pumps will serve as an eco-friendly heating solution for the Victorian building, replacing the existing gas-fired boilers used by the mill.
Originally a busy textile factory, Garden Mills has experienced a decline in usage over the years due to accessibility challenges and unreliable electrical and mechanical services.
“The existing Garden Mills building is in poor condition, with ageing building fabric, life-expired services and tired internal finishes. Due to this, although the mill has historically been used for teaching purposes, the building is currently largely mothballed and used for storage,” said the planning application.
Bradford College will have access state of the art facilities
Once complete, the refurbished building will include two new flexible science laboratories and a prep room. It will also feature six higher education digital IT labs, an ophthalmic dispensing suite, and a clinical suite.
Additionally, there will be a real-life work environment with consulting and testing booths, as well as a collaboration space designed to foster interaction and teamwork. Lastly, there will be dedicated academic teaching spaces available within the facility.
“The Garden Mills project is an exciting development that will create cutting-edge facilities for higher-level STEM teaching in one impressive five-storey building and help provide an outstanding student experience,” said Chris Webb, CEO of Bradford College.
“As a highly experienced education construction contractor, we will work collaboratively with the College to deliver this refurbishment project. Once complete, the space will provide dedicated specialist facilities to support the delivery of higher-level skills, focusing on digital, science and ophthalmic studies,” concluded Paul Ellenor, regional director for Yorkshire and the Northeast at Tilbury Douglas.
