The acquisition and redevelopment of the former Newtown Mill in Queen’s Lancashire Way will create around 35,000 sq ft of space to accommodate innovative teaching facilities and a business/enterprise zone, as well as public realm improvements to Sandygate, Burnley.
The site will provide a state-of-the-art building with inspirational heritage features, high-quality teaching rooms, student social space and a business and public engagement area.
The scheme is being delivered through the council’s joint venture with Barnfield Investment Properties in partnership with UCLan. UCLan’s Burnley Campus has been an emerging anchor institution within the town from 2010, initially for the delivery of foundation, undergraduate, top-up and postgraduate programmes. Then in 2018, UCLan acquired Victoria Mill and approved plans for the construction of Sandygate Halls of residence which opened in 2020 and includes 136 student bed spaces.
Made possible through the governments Levelling Up programme, there is now the opportunity to build on what has been achieve so far. Burnley Borough Council acquired the site of the former mill in March 2022. Redevelopment plans have been drawn up by Day Architecture and works have commenced on site.
Councillor Mark Townsend, the Council’s Executive Member for Economy & Growth, said: “This is a very exciting project for the town which will see a landmark building brought back into use and will enable UCLan to move its campus presence in Burnley to the next stage; raising the aspirations of the borough’s young people and firmly establishing Burnley as a university town.”
Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), said: “This is another pivotal and exciting development in our ongoing plans to raise young people’s aspirations in the area, respond to local employers’ skills needs and support the regeneration of Burnley. We are grateful for the support from the Levelling-Up Fund and the backing from key partners.
“Together with Sandygate Halls, our first student halls of residence, Burnley is rapidly establishing itself as an attractive canal side campus. It will mark another key milestone in the drive to transform Burnley into a university town and part of UCLan’s ambitious plans to increase student numbers to 4,000.
“We continue to grow our course portfolio to meet the existing and emerging skills’ needs of Burnley and East Lancashire, developing the next generation of key workers in areas such as medicine, health, nursing, policing and social work.
“In addition, Newtown Mill aims to build on our employer engagement strategy so local companies benefit from degree apprenticeship courses in areas such as digital, cyber, engineering and management as well as access research expertise and business support programmes to improve business competitiveness and innovation.”
Tim Webber, Chairman of Barnfield Developments said “We’re really excited to be working on this scheme, which will be a great addition to the work that we have already completed, in partnership with the Council, in the Sandygate area”.