World heritage site looks to the future with plans for £6m multi-use centre
Plans have been submitted to deliver a £6m new Community, Arts, Heritage and Future Technology Centre in Saltaire.
The centre, which is being funded by the Shipley Towns Fund, is being delivered by Shipley College and the Saltaire Collection.
If the proposals go ahead, the centre will be at the corner of Victoria Road and Caroline Street on land provided by Bradford Council.
It will provide additional classroom and administration space to support the curriculum of Shipley College, for technology-based teaching and learning.
It will also become the new home for the Saltaire Collection – a large collection of historic artefacts and documents.
There will be a public exhibition space, and community classroom to enable people to learn more about the history of Saltaire.
Alongside five modern new classrooms, the current proposals include a civic garden to the front of the building and a publicly-accessible rooftop exhibition garden – intended to be open during the daytime.
Jo Lintonbon, architect at 3xa Design, based in Saltaire, said: “The new building reinstates a civic function where Saltaire’s now demolished Sunday School’s building once stood.
“It has been designed to complement the sensitive historic context of Saltaire without harming the heritage attributes that make up the World Heritage Site’s outstanding universal value.
“It will add to the ensemble of civic buildings and spaces on Victoria Road and create a welcoming and accessible exhibition pavilion and gardens.
“The design has been developed to retain key views to Salts Mill and most of the new accommodation is set below street level around a sunken courtyard.”
Adam Clerkin, chairman of the Shipley Towns Fund said: “This new building has been carefully designed to sit contextually within the World Heritage Site, enhancing the public’s enjoyment and appreciation of it.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “The council has supported the project in terms of planning and transferring the land.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to enhance Saltaire for the future. It is important it is done to an extremely high standard and in a sensitive way which respects the history of this very special place, and I believe the plans show that.”
Diana Bird, principal at Shipley College, added: “The new building will provide modern teaching facilities to teach local people in-demand technological skills.
“It will create new public green spaces, and a permanent storage and exhibition space to tell the story of Saltaire to visitors – something that our village does not currently have.”
