Exciting plans to transform the Northgate site in Halifax town centre have moved a step closer.
Calderdale Council’s vision is to create a mixed-use development on the site, including a new sixth form centre and a range of retail, commercial or residential units. This will help achieve the Vision 2024 for Calderdale to be a place where people want to live, learn, work, visit and invest.
Work started on site last week by contractor Harris CM to clear the former library building. This is an important step forward in a challenging construction programme for the delivery of a new sixth form centre, which is expected be open to students by autumn 2019.
The Council is working with Trinity Multi-Academy Trust and Rastrick High School on the expanded sixth form offer, which will initially include 600 places for post-16 students from across Calderdale and beyond.
This will help to meet the Council’s need to find an additional 675 secondary school places and its ambition for all young people to receive a high-quality education within the borough.
Last week also saw another milestone, with the planning application for the entire Northgate site having been submitted. Additionally, a report is due to be considered by the Council’s Cabinet this summer, outlining in more detail the preferred mix of uses for the parts of the site which are not required for the sixth form centre.
Cllr Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said:
“It’s fantastic to see work progressing for this prime town centre location. This is a key part of our Next Chapter programme to transform Halifax town centre and put Calderdale on the map, alongside other major developments including transport improvements and Halifax’s thriving cultural quarter.
“The plans for the Northgate site aim to help strengthen the economy through increased footfall and consumer spending in the town centre and the retention of talented, skilled young people within Calderdale.”
Duncan Brundell, Chair of Rastrick High School Trust, said:
“Rastrick High School has high expectations for all its students. Enabling them to achieve these expectations means providing access to outstanding teaching and learning facilities far beyond GCSEs.
“We remain committed to preparing our young people for the next phase of their learning or career path and feel that the new Sixth Form College will provide them with the best possible opportunities.”
Michael Gosling, CEO of Trinity Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), added:
“Trinity MAT is delighted to work in partnership with the Council, as well as other partner schools, to deliver this ambitious and transformational post-16 college. We believe that it will become a beacon of excellence, enabling many more students to benefit from the outstanding education currently on offer at Trinity Academy Halifax.”
For more information about the exciting developments in Calderdale, visit www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk(external link) and follow #CdaleNextChapter on Twitter.
The Next Chapter helps to form Calderdale’s Vision 2024. But where do we want to be by 2024? What’s our ambition and what will be different? Get involved with the debate on Twitter with #VisionCdale2024 and find out more at https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/council/vision-2024