Strategic Sites has started construction of the £73m Kirklees College in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in a development which will help kickstart the Huddersfield Waterfront Quarter regeneration scheme.

The development arm of Wynyard Park plans to complete the 260,000 sq ft campus by September 2012.

It will replace obsolete 1970’s buildings and is being funded by the Learning & Skills Council, Yorkshire Forward, Kirklees Council and the College’s own resources.

Leeds-based Allenbuild is carrying out the main contract works with Turner & Townsend acting as project manager.

The Waterfront Quarter is a joint venture between Yorkshire Forward and Kirklees Council with Strategic Sites acting as development manager. In total the scheme will comprise 190,000 sq ft of office space, 300 new homes, leisure facilities, restaurants and an improved public realm with a new public square on a 6 acre site near the town centre.

Development plots for offices and leisure use will be available from summer 2011.

Paul Barber, chief executive of Strategic Sites, said: “Waterfront Quarter is one of the few major regeneration projects to proceed in the current climate. As well as bringing huge benefits to Huddersfield and West Yorkshire in general, the project also marks a shift by Strategic Sites into the role of development management, a natural extension of our traditional role as a developer.”

The project will also open up the Huddersfield Narrow Canal which runs under the site to create a waterway which will also serve to provide cooling water for the college building. The public will be able to access the river and canal side footpaths in this part of Huddersfield.

Strategic Sites’ lead architect is DLG Architects and its property advisers are Dove Haigh Phillips and Savills.

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