Harrogate College Rebuild Underway After Local MP Stepped in To Save Funding
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, visited Harrogate College last week to see progress on its £20 million redevelopment – a long-awaited transformation he fought hard to secure for the community.
The project was in serious jeopardy soon after Tom’s election. Planning delays meant Harrogate College was set to miss the 2026 completion deadline, which would have resulted in the college losing the Department for Education’s £20 million investment entirely.
Determined to protect this investment, Tom made it his top priority. He raised the issue in Parliament, met with the Minister, and supported successful negotiations that secured a crucial deadline extension.
During his visit to Harrogate College, Tom heard how the redevelopment will deliver modern, state-of-the-art facilities, expand Harrogate College’s course offering, and better meet the needs of local employers – creating more opportunities for people to gain the skills they need to succeed.
Commenting, Tom said:
“Harrogate College’s rebuild is a huge win for our community. As our only further education provider, it’s key to helping people into good jobs and building the skilled workforce local employers need.
“I fought hard to make sure funding for this rebuild was secured – raising the issue in Parliament, meeting the Minister, and negotiating a crucial deadline extension. Without that, this investment would have been lost.
“I’ll keep fighting to make sure our area gets the investment it deserves – strengthening our economy, creating opportunities, and ensuring no one is left behind.”
Danny Wild, Principal of Harrogate College, added:
‘This rebuild will provide a significant and much-needed upgrade that will enable us to build on the good work we’re doing to equip our students with the skills they, and North Yorkshire's employers, really need.
‘The new purpose-built facility will allow us to expand the breadth and quality of our curriculum, so we can continue to provide high-quality vocational education for many years to come. I am grateful for Tom’s support in helping get this rebuild over the line and underway.’
