We have secured £22 million in funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to rebuild our main campus and create a brand-new technology centre. While planning permission was initially granted, a local commercial property developer has filed for Judicial Review, potentially delaying the project completion to summer 2026.
About the new buildings
- Current plans would see a new state-of-the-art building created along with a renewable energy technology centre.
- The upgrade will result in state-of-the-art facilities including a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite, electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre focused on modern building methods.
- A focus of the upgraded campus will be on teaching sustainable technology skills, which is one of our priorities.
Concept image of Harrogate College’s proposed main building
Concept image of Harrogate College’s proposed renewable energy technology centre
Why Rebuild?
- The current main Harrogate College building is an ageing office block that was never designed for educational purposes.
- The rebuilt facilities will enable us to deliver courses that can support regional skills needs for decades to come
- An upgraded campus will enhance education infrastructure in Harrogate and the surrounding areas, improving opportunities for local residents.
Funding
The majority of this funding has been sourced through the previous government’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, which seeks to upgrade and transform the college estate.
In total, the funding for the rebuild includes:
- £16 million grant from the DfE
- £4 million loan from the DfE
- £2 million from Luminate Education Group (of which we are a member)
The funding can only be used to make improvements to facilities and buildings.
Construction Process
We’re planning a phased approach to the construction:
- Phase 1: Build the new campus on our current car park
- Phase 2: Demolish the old building once the new facility is complete
We will remain fully operational throughout construction, minimising disruption to students’ learning.
Car Park Closure
While there will be disruption on the college’s car park, alternative parking arrangements have been sourced for all affected staff.
Measures to ensure that parking does not spill over to others on the business park have been communicated to Hornbeam Park Developments Ltd, the council and other local political stakeholders.
Project Delays
Recent planning complications, due to a local commercial property developer launching a Judicial Review, have unexpectedly delayed the project.
Key points around the delay:
- North Yorkshire Council will re-run the planning process due to a procedural flaw
- There is now an anticipated delay for reconfirming planning permission
- Given this, the project will be delayed by approximately 8-12 months
Nic Harne, Corporate Director for Community Development at North Yorkshire Council, said:
“All the relevant legal papers are soon to be lodged with the court and the terms of the consent order are in the process of being settled. This is going through the process now and timescales will be down to the availability of a judge to examine the papers. Once the decision has been quashed, the proposed scheme will return to being a live planning application. We will continue to proactively work with the applicant.”
You can read more about the detail behind the Judicial Review here.
Funding Extension
This delay may prevent the project from completing – even though we’re confident that planning permission will eventually be granted once again. This is a result of the DfE’s strict funding timeframe associated with the grant and loan.
We have requested an extension from the DfE due to these unforeseen difficulties and will update this page when we know more.
What happens if the buildings don’t go ahead?
Inability to complete the project would have a negative impact on education and employment opportunities for local young people and adults. It would also hinder local businesses’ ability to recruit the skills they need, creating a barrier for regional economic growth.
Local politicians have supported our calls for an extension to the DfE’s funding timeline to enable the rebuild to complete:
Tom Gordon, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:
“I will be more than happy to work with Harrogate College to make sure the funding for this important project is secured. Education and skills, for people of all ages, are very important to the Lib Dems which is why our manifesto has so much to say about them.”
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
“North Yorkshire Council had granted the college planning permission…and preparations were being made for construction to begin. However, an application for Judicial Review has been made by a local individual opposed to the rebuild. This is highly unusual given the new college is being built on the current site.”
“The council remains confident that the project will still be granted planning permission, albeit at a delayed pace. This delay does mean, however, that the funding underpinning the rebuild is now threatened as a result of the expected completion date being delayed until September 2026.”
“Missing this valuable window of opportunity to redevelop Harrogate’s only general further education college would be a damaging outcome for local people, employers and the regional economy.”