Building works begin on multi-million pound enterprise centre

Todmorden Town Deal Board has reached a milestone in its £17.5m investment programme, with construction beginning on a new community-owned and led £3.8m enterprise centre.

Through a partnership between Connect Housing and Calder Valley Community Land Trust (CVCLT) an additional investment of £4m has been secured to add affordable rented homes to the project at Ferney Lee, Todmorden.

The Ferney Lee project will create 23 affordable rented offices and workspaces alongside 19 affordable rented homes.

It is one of the key elements of the Todmorden Town Deal programme, which aims to boost the local economy by creating opportunities for enterprise, skills development and an emerging pipeline for new jobs in the town.

The Enterprise Centre will offer space for micro and small to medium businesses, whether start-ups, freelancers wanting to move out of homeworking or for more established small to medium enterprises looking to grow.

The homes will be built to high standards of energy efficiency, and will be offered at social rents to people with a connection with, or a need to live in, the Todmorden area.

Pam Warhurst, chair, Todmorden Town Deal, said: “We are pleased that construction of this exciting and important new home for enterprise, business, co-working and collaboration in Todmorden is now underway.

“The Enterprise Centre will meet the need for professional, modern and affordable workspaces and offices for commercial ventures, and for Todmorden people with ideas and passions they want to transform into a local enterprise.

“We are committed to supporting our local economy in particular new skills development, and business and job creation, and the new enterprise centre perfectly embodies this element of our vision.”

The affordable rented housing element of the new build is led by Connect Housing, a community benefit society and housing association, providing homes and support to communities across West Yorkshire.

Connect Housing will manage the build phase, and also manage the new homes when completed.

Martyn Broadest, director of home for Connect Housing, said: “We share the commitment to create very high quality, super-energy-efficient homes, and the standards to which Ferney Lee has been designed will provide an exemplar new housing scheme for Todmorden.

“The design team has worked really hard to create a development which is sympathetic to the surrounding neighbourhood, and which will benefit the wider community.

“We very much appreciate the support of Homes England who are providing funding towards the overall costs of the project through the UK Government Affordable Homes Programme.”

Town Deal Partner, Calder Valley Community Land Trust has driven the Ferney Lee project forward to this stage.

Once the Enterprise Centre is developed, it will be run by its social enterprise subsidiary, CVCLT Enterprise Ltd.

Dai Larner, director, Calder Valley Community Land Trust, said: “We believe that by creating a home for 21st century jobs we can provide work for our young people who move away to study and want to return to live and work in the valley.

“The new project at Ferney Lee will be a core part of the regeneration of Todmorden.

“Our primary aim at CVCLT is to provide secure tenancies in affordable rented homes that enable people to put down roots, become a part of the community and have the health benefits that a secure affordable tenancy brings.”

The funding package for the Ferney Lee project comprises: £3.8m funding from Todmorden Town Deal, £1.9m from Connect Housing and a further £1.9m provided by Homes England through the Affordable Homes Programme (2021/2026).

Construction is being undertaken by PLP Construction, with completion anticipated in spring 2026.