Caddick secures £25m college contract

LTE Group, operator of Manchester College, has appointed Caddick Construction to build teaching and training facilities at its Openshaw campus.

The announcement follows the official appointment in August of Willmott Dixon on the £54m first phase of the college’s new city centre campus on the former Boddington’s site.

Caddick will be tasked with delivering a six-court sports hall, outdoor pitch, gym and sports lab; a health suite with a hospital ward and infectious disease area for healthcare students; and brand new workshops for construction, mechanics and engineering students.

The project forms part of the £139m first stage of LTE’s estates strategy, which is designed to “transform The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester’s education and training delivery locations over the next two years”.

John Thornhill, LTE Group’s chief executive, said that the eastern area of Manchester is “already renowned for its specialist sports and healthcare facilities, as well as huge growth in construction across the city centre and beyond”.

He added: “These new student teaching facilities will enable us to provide the next generation of skills to bolster the region’s economy, to stimulate growth and enable Greater Manchester to be a landmark in education and skills. “

Doors are expected to open on the new build project in September 2021. Funding partners for LTE’s estates overhaul include Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership and Manchester City Council, alongside commercial backing from Santander.

Ian Threadgold, managing director of Caddick Construction’s North West office, said: “The project will provide high quality teaching and learning environments for students, staff and employers and see The College’s facilities move into broader city communities offering long-term benefits.”