Work has begun to revamp Barrow Sixth Form College.
The Rating Lane campus will undergo a 14-month programme of work thanks to funding from the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal, alongside a grant from the Government’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund and investment from Furness College.
The scheme will include changes to the building’s layout, the addition of staff rooms and the development of the surrounding grounds.
Existing classrooms will be renovated as well as the college theatre, while a new reception and entrance area will be created. The energy efficiency of the building would also be increased.
The work will be undertaken in phased sections to minimise disruption, allowing for newly enrolled students and staff members to reap the benefits from the start of that academic year. The project is set to be completed by August 2024.
The retrofit is considered a more sustainable option than a new build and will help to reduce operational costs, those behind the scheme say.
Furness College deputy principal Nicola Cove said: “It is fantastic to see the first phase of the transformation of our specialist sixth form is well underway.
“This multi-million-pound facelift will create a state-of-the-art learning environment for our students that is befitting of the long tradition of academic excellence at our Rating Lane campus.
“I’d like to thank staff and students for their patience and the contractors for working to keep any disruption to a minimum.”
The Brilliant Barrow board secured the maximum £25 million in funding from the Government’s Towns Fund in 2022. Now, working with the newly formed Westmorland and Furness Council, it is due to deliver seven ambitious projects by 2026.
One of these projects is the Learning Quarter which aims to create more opportunities for people in Barrow and the surrounding areas to access further and higher education.
Improvements to Barrow Sixth Form College will create an extra 300 further education places every year, while more than 1,400 places in higher education will be available thanks to a new University of Cumbria campus on Barrow Island.
Work at Barrow Sixth Form College will be carried out by contractor Pinningtons Ltd.
Steve Cole, chair of the Brilliant Barrow Board and chief infrastructure officer at BAE Systems Ltd, said: “The learning quarter has the potential to change the lives of thousands of people of all ages.
“Not only will it provide improved access to both further and higher education right here in Barrow, but people will have the opportunity to learn in inspiring and modern surroundings.
“It is wonderful to see this work get underway at Barrow Sixth Form as the Brilliant Barrow programme moves forward with the delivery of each of its projects.”
The other six projects included in the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal are:
- Community Wellbeing Hubs and Earnse Bay Outdoor Centre – Hubs at The Forum, in Barrow Town Centre, at Bram Longstaffe on Barrow Island and in Ormsgill will provide a home for activities and services for people in all stages of their lives. A new outdoor learning centre will also be created at Earnse Bay, on Walney.
- Business and Enterprise – A programme of bespoke business support available to residents, potential entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses, including community businesses and social enterprises, to harness economic opportunities in Barrow including those that exist within the supply chain.
- Brilliant Barrow Place Development – Improving event spaces in the town centre and at The Dock Museum to allow a calendar of activities and events to be developed, attracting both residents and visitors to the area.
- Housing Renewal – Homes and a number of commercial properties in Rawlinson Street will undergo works and carbon reduction measures to improve the lives of residents as well as the overall perception of Barrow as a great place to live.
- Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure – Dedicated routes for cyclists and pedestrians will link key areas to make it easier, safer and more enjoyable to travel by bike or on foot, cutting the number of short car journeys to improve health and wellbeing, reduce carbon usage and contribute to cleaner air.
- Barrow Waterfront – This project will help bring forward remediation and development of the derelict waterfront site. The work will unlock the potential of the site allowing the private sector to construct a mixed range of new homes bringing people and families back into the heart of the town.
