Work gears up for Blackburn College’s £25m Victoria Building

Main contractor BAM Construction now has the keys for the grade two-listed teaching block, with aims to breathe new life into the 135-year-old building.

Blackburn College secured planning permission in November 2022 to restore the Victoria Building and transform it into an adult learning hub and community events space. Hoardings for the construction project went into place in August last year, with the college officially moving out of the building in December. Soon, BAM will begin erecting the scaffolding – an effort that will take around six months.

The Victoria Building sits at the corner of Blakey Moor and Nab Lane in the town centre of Blackburn. The structure has suffered from water damage and is in need of repair – which is why the Department for Education has chipped in £25m from its Further Education Capital Transfer Fund to support the project.

Upon completion in autumn 2026, the Victoria Building will have new lecture theatres, a live performance area on its top floors, and a series of classrooms and meeting rooms. Many of the building’s historic feature, such as its stained glass windows and decorative panelling will be restored. Darwen Terracotta and Faience has been recruited to restore much of the building’s carvings.

“The Victoria Building is a much-loved and recognised landmark,” said Blackburn College principal Fazal Dad.

“It’s weaved into our town’s history, a symbol of Blackburn’s proud industrial heritage. This ambitious project will create a new life for the building as a beacon of our dynamic economic, cultural and inclusive future as the town undergoes its own transformative investment.”

BAM regional director John Phillips described the project as “an interesting challenge” for the contractor.

“This beautiful, grade II listed building requires intricate and delicate work to ensure the fabric of the college remains undamaged,” he said.

“The building will be completely covered in scaffolding and a canopy that allows the work to remain protected from the elements, whilst we restore this eye-catching structure to its former glory. Most importantly, we’ll make possible a superb upgrade that will serve the staff, students and local community for generations to come.”

The Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon, chimed in with his own praise.

“I am delighted to see Blackburn College is benefiting from the significant investments we have given to colleges to transform their estates across the country.” Halfon said.

“I want to build a skills nation and our brilliant colleges are at the forefront of that, providing the best education for students no matter where they live.

“Local people will have access to high-quality facilities and learning environments, to gain the skills they need to climb the ladder of opportunity into further study and work, whilst supporting efforts to grow the economy.”

In addition to BAM, the project team includes ADP Architecture and Mott MacDonald. Silcock Leedham Consulting Engineers and RPS Group helped in securing planning permission.