First images of Brit North arts college revealed

Design images of the north of England's first Brit School-inspired performing arts college have been revealed.

Inspired by the world famous performing arts academy in London, Brit North is set to be built in Bradford city centre after the council sold the land to the Department for Education in February.

The plans were announced in 2023, with the college housed on the site of the former Jacob's Well council building – currently a car park.

According to a planning application, Bradford's designation as UK City of Culture 2025 was a key part in bringing the school to the city, with hopes the project will improve facilities for the arts across the North of England.

"In 2025, Bradford was designated the UK City of Culture, drawing more than three million attendees to more than 5,000 events across the year, demonstrating the scale of appetite for arts and culture in the region," the application said.

"However, young people from the city have not historically had access to a dedicated performing arts college.

"Brit North seeks to change that by being the first college of its kind in Northern England, addressing a significant gap in provision and ensuring that a young person's potential is not limited by where they grow up or by their socio-economic background."

The college would host 500 students, 50 members of staff and be spearheaded by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which also helped to found the Brit School.

The London site has nurtured performers including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Tom Holland and Olivia Dean since opening in 1991.

According to the planning application, the building will have a theatre, set construction workshop, a multi-use games area, music performance spaces and a TV studio set as well as classrooms and college facilities.

The building has gone through multiple design changes at the request of Bradford Council, with the final design reflecting the area's "local materials and industrial heritage, as well as emphasising the school's specialism in the performing arts", the application said.

A decision on the application is expected in November.

BPI had previously said it hoped the college would be open in 2028, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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