MediaCity UTC launch postponed
THE launch of a creative industries University Technical College (UTC) at MediaCityUK in Salford has been delayed by a year.
The UTC, for 14-18-year-olds, was due to open in September, but building delays have pushed the opening back to 2015.
The school is being run by a partnership of The University of Salford, Salford City College, The Lowry arts centre and learning charity The Aldridge Foundation which was set up by Sir Rod Aldridge, founder of outsourcing group Capita.
BAM Construction has already been selected for the £10.4m design and build contract for the 70,000 sq ft, four-storey building on Broadway behind the main MediaCityUK campus.
In a statement the UTC’s trustees said: “Due to a delay in permit approvals, construction of the UTC buildings began much later than originally planned. Despite great efforts by all parties, including our construction partner BAM, we have been unable to make-up the time caused by this delay and have taken the difficult decision to defer the opening until September 2015.
“Our first priority will always be to our students, and to the long-term shared vision that led us to create the UTC in the first instance. It has not been possible to identify alternative temporary accommodation that was of a standard suitable to meet the needs of the curriculum, transport and safe-guarding of students.
“We remain extremely excited and totally committed to the vision, the facilities and curriculum that UTC@MediaCityUK will offer our students and very much look forward to our opening in September 2015.”
A spokesman for BAM said: “BAM Construction is on schedule with the construction programme agreed with the client, following the unavoidable delays out of BAM’s control which delayed the start on site.
“The UTC@MediaCity UK had planned to open in temporary accommodation in September 2014, moving into their new building in January 2015. The client has now taken the decision to delay opening due to not finding a standard of accommodation they are happy with for this interim period, but this is not due to any delay in the construction programme.”
