(Image: UGC)
A new Bradford centre will bring heritage, education and the community together.
Work on the James Roberts Centre will soon begin on Caroline Street in Saltaire.
The centre will house the Saltaire Collection and expand vocational learning facilities, marking a significant investment in preserving Saltaire’s heritage and enhancing public access to its history.
Named after mill owner and philanthropist Sir James Roberts, the project was previously known as the Community, Arts, Heritage & Future Tech Centre.
Shipley College is delivering the project, funded by a £6.26 million Government Local Regeneration Fund grant and £200,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy.
A spokesperson for the project said: "This is about more than preserving buildings and artefacts.
"It continues Sir Titus Salt’s belief in the power of education and ensures future generations can understand and appreciate the story of Saltaire.
"As custodians of the Saltaire Collection and many of the buildings within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shipley College recognises its responsibility to protect and share this heritage.
"The Caroline Street site has always been a place of learning and opportunity.
"By creating a new home for the collection and a welcoming space for people of all ages, we are ensuring that legacy continues long into the future."
Currently, the Saltaire Collection is housed in a small area of the Exhibition Building with limited public access and unsuitable storage conditions.
The new centre will give the collection better exhibition space, protect it and open it up to residents, visitors and schools.
It will also improve Shipley College’s vocational facilities, linking Saltaire’s heritage with skills training.
Councillor Andrew Judson, executive member for economy, regeneration and planning at Bradford Council, said: "This project is an investment in people and in the future prosperity of the district.
"High-quality education and skills provision are essential to economic growth, and the new facilities will provide Shipley College with a modern environment that supports students in developing the knowledge and experience they need for successful careers.
"At the same time, the development will increase activity in Saltaire, support local businesses and strengthen the area's appeal as a place to study, work and visit.
"Projects like this help create vibrant centres and destinations that can attract investment and generate opportunities for local communities.
"We are pleased to have reached this important milestone and look forward to seeing the building progress over the coming months."
Gill Thornton, chair of the Local Regeneration Fund, called the start of work a "significant moment" for Saltaire and the wider Shipley Towns Fund programme.
Ms Thornton said: "This is another example of a project which will have a lasting impact and create education and training opportunities for a stronger future for people throughout the area.
"Bringing together Shipley College and the Saltaire Collection in a single purpose-built facility is an innovative approach that connects learning, culture and community.
"It will create opportunities for people of all ages to engage with Saltaire's remarkable history while ensuring that this nationally-important collection is more accessible than ever before for generations to come.
"It is hugely encouraging to see years of planning and collaboration now becoming a reality, and I look forward to seeing the benefits this project will bring for residents, students and visitors alike."
Shipley College already looks after many of Saltaire’s historic buildings and has long preserved Sir Titus Salt’s legacy through education and community work.
The new centre will build on that work by opening up Saltaire’s social history and creating more chances to learn.
During construction, residents and businesses will receive regular updates about progress, access arrangements and any expected disruption.
Heritage-themed hoardings around the site will feature historical information, artist’s impressions and ways to follow the project’s progress.
The college is working with design and construction partners including 3xa Design, Batty France, Dudley Consulting Engineers, Nexus Allied, Spring and Company and Artium Construction.
The Caroline Street car park has closed ahead of construction, with visitors directed to Exhibition Road and residents to residential on-street spaces.
Before planning approval, ICOMOS warned that the proposed building could have a highly adverse impact on Saltaire's Outstanding Universal Value.
The Saltaire Collection contains about 6,000 artefacts documenting the village's social history and has previously been difficult for the public to view.