THE future of a multi-million pound regeneration project in Huddersfield is hanging in the balance.
Developers behind the £175m Waterfront Quarter scheme were dealt a massive blow yesterday when funding for the central part of the project was thrown into doubt.
The plans include flats and offices on land off Chapel Hill and Manchester Road, on the banks of the River Colne.
But the whole scheme rests on a new £70m campus for Kirklees College being built on the site.
However, funding body the Learning and Skills Council has revealed that 79 college building projects, including Kirklees, have been put on hold because of a shortage of cash.
Government ministers are expected to meet the LSC next month to decide the fate of the schemes.
David Armitage, chairman of Ramsden and Colne Developments, which is behind the Waterfront Quarter, said it would be a disaster if the college did not get approval.
He said: “The likelihood is the whole scheme would collapse.”
Building at the Waterfront was expected to start early this year. It was anticipated the buildings would be fully occupied by July, 2011.
But the LSC has had to freeze funding following an overload of bids for money for college building projects.
Mr Armitage branded the organisation “incompetent.”
He added: “It would be an absolutely massive blow if this did not happen.”
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman also blamed the LSC.
He said he had been given assurances the money was in place for the project and added: “It’s so vital to the regeneration of the whole of Huddersfield that this goes ahead.”
Mr Sheerman said the college now needed to prove that it was worthy of the money – and could be flexible about its proposals.
“If there are going to be colleges given priority for funding, I want us to be top of the list,” he added.
The college said it was hopeful the project would still go ahead.
In a statement, it said: “We believe Kirklees College is in a unique position following the merger of Dewsbury and Huddersfield Technical College to make a major impact to improve people’s skills locally and regionally.
“The plans for the new build will enable us to give our learners better facilities and provision.
“The building project will also boost the local economy by providing employment opportunities.”
Some colleges are facing bankruptcy as a result of the LSC’s funding announcement, but Kirklees said its position was safe.
The statement said: “We have taken a prudent approach to expenditure and have only committed the level of funds necessary to develop our proposals to this stage.
“In spite of the current position we remain very positive and have received significant support from our local politicians and partners.
“We are still working to move our proposals forward. Should we receive positive support we will be in a good position to start work on site at relatively short notice.”
