Willmott Dixon cues up £39m Hopwood Hall College redevelopment
The Department for Education has appointed the contractor to replace 70,000 sq ft of teaching space with a 75,000 sq ft new-build block at the educator’s Rochdale campus.
The project, procured via the DfE Construction Framework, will see the existing buildings replaced by a new-build four-storey facility on the St Marys Gate campus, a building that will bring Higher Education provision to Rochdale for the first time alongside Further Education.
Work is expected to start soon on the Sheppard Robson-designed facility, with the demolition to take place after students are decanted to the new building towards the end of 2028.
Michael Poole-Sutherland, operations director at Willmott Dixon in the North West, said: “This project represents everything we stand for – delivering brilliant buildings that transform lives and strengthen communities.
“We have been supporting and creating opportunities for Hopwood Hall College students for the past five years and we’re thrilled to continue to work together to create a lasting legacy in Rochdale.”
Julia Heap, principal and chief executive at Hopwood Hall College, said: “We’re thrilled to be working alongside Willmott Dixon as we develop a brand-new block at our Rochdale Campus. This building will be a hub for learners of all ages, ensuring they’re able to thrive through expert training delivered in the heart of Rochdale. Willmott Dixon is a great partner for this project and it’s brilliant to work alongside a team who share our passion for transforming lives.
“Their commitment to offering T Level placements is just one of the ways we’ve already joined forces to provide opportunities for young people across the borough and beyond.”
Across two campuses in Rochdale and Middleton, Hopwood Hall College has been operating since 1947.
The project adds to Willmott Dixon’s portfolio of educational work alongside the DfE including the net-zero carbon in operation Tarleton Academy in Preston. The company also delivered Brian Clarke Academy for the DfE in Oldham in 2023 and is currently on-site delivering Wigan and Leigh College’s campus redevelopment, also set to be NZCiO.
Hopwood Hall College hasn’t been operating since 1947. it was created in 1992. De La Salle Teacher Training College opened in Middleton in 1947. The Rochdale Campus was a merger of the Rochdale College of Further Education, Rochdale College of Art and Rochdale Technology College. The buildings on the Rochdale campus were built in the 60s, but the College of Art at least goes back to the 19th century.
By Nick B