Green light for £38m expansion of new college campus on old Boddingtons city centre site

Plans to expand a college campus which opened on the former Boddingtons Brewery in Manchester last year have been given the green light. The £38m project is the second phase of Manchester College's move to the city centre.

The four-storey extension will house the college’s Industry Excellence Academies for Business & Professional, Access to Higher Education and Science, as well as the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Once complete, the college's Shena Simon Campus in Chorlton Street will close.

It comes as Manchester College, which is part of the LTE Group, consolidates its 14 sites across the city into five main campuses. Last September, the college opened its landmark £93m city centre campus in Great Ducie Street.

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The second phase of the development, which is expected to be completed by September 2025, will feature 'industry-standard' facilities including science labs, classrooms, IT suites and a roof terrace, according to the college. There will also be an Esports room with 16 gaming stations and an Incubator Hub where industry partners will support students working on business projects.

Manchester College principal Rachel Curry said: "We are thrilled to have been granted planning permission for the next stage of development of this amazing facility in the heart of Manchester. Thousands of students already benefit from the world-class facilities at City Campus Manchester each week, and we look forward to opening our doors to even more young people and adult students once phase two of the project has been completed. The campus will provide an inspiring setting for students to prepare for a successful and