Leeds City College

Work to create a new multi-million pound education and training base in Morley is underway.

Bermar Building Co Ltd has been appointed by Leeds City Council to convert the former St Mary’s in the Wood church hall, on Commercial Street, into Morley Learning and Skills Centre.

Run by the college, the new facility will be focused on helping adults gain new and improved skills, including in growth sectors like technology and innovation, to boost their employability and career prospects

A Grade II Listed building, the venue was bought by the council in 2023 using money from the £24.3m Morley Town Deal grant, awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The centre will offer courses spanning a range of subjects including: coding, virtual reality, 2D printing, general IT skills, English and maths

Flexible learning for busy lives

Our Director of Curriculum for Adults, Jo Dye, said: “We and our partners, Leeds City Council, have great plans for Morley and know that this centre will help so many people gain the training and education they, and local businesses, need.

“Major projects like this always involve overcoming challenges; we cleared the funding hurdle and now, with the appointment of Bermar Building Co Ltd as the contractor, we have reached another significant milestone.

“With the building work now underway, residents can look forward to seeing this exciting development, which will breathe new life into a much-loved former church hall in the heart of Morley, start to take shape.

“The result will be a centre that offers flexible learning opportunities, designed to fit around busy lives, access to digital facilities and training for all.”

Unlocking opportunities for generations to come

The council’s Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: “Morley Town Deal consultations have consistently shown the ambition of Morley people to be able to access high-quality adult learning and upskilling opportunities locally.

“With its focus on delivering technology-based learning, the opening of the new centre will deliver on those ambitions and help many generations of people to thrive in the future.”

A legacy to be proud of

Work on the building is expected to be completed by autumn 2026.

Chair of the Morley Town Deal board, Gerald Jennings, said: “The board has worked hard to develop a skills agenda that is both aspiring in its goals and sustainable in helping to future-proof the town’s workforce and provide lasting opportunities.

“This centre, with its wide range of education and upskilling opportunities, is a legacy the Town Deal can be proud of, as it will provide people with opportunities for generations to come.”

Respecting the past, shaping the future

The development will include nods to the building’s heritage as a place of worship, with a commemorative plaque being prepared and the original pews set to be reinstalled after they are restored by our RE: Workshop, which focuses on creative upcycling.

Managing Director of Bermar Building Co Ltd, Rob Moon, added: “As a company that specialises in restoring heritage buildings, it is exciting to be able to develop such a forward-looking resource for the people of Morley, while also retaining the character and heritage of a building that has been a part of the community for over 100 years.”