Work to convert former Morley church building into learning and skills centre gathers pace
Work to convert a former church building into a new multi-million-pound learning and skills centre in Morley continues to gather pace.
Located inside the Grade II-listed St Mary’s in the Wood Church building, which dates back to 1900, the new Morley Learning and Skills Centre will focus on enabling adults to improve their skills and qualifications to boost their employability and career prospects.
A central pillar of the Morley Town Deal’s skills agenda, the historic building on Commercial Street was purchased by Leeds City Council in October 2023 as part of the £24.3 million Morley Town Deal grant awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Work to restore the building’s roof, façade, windows, and doors, plus make the entrance more accessible is well underway with scaffolding now covering the entirety of the building’s historic exterior.
A Leeds City Council a spokesperson said: “Work to refurbish the Grade 2 Listed former St Mary’s in the Wood Church building into the new Morley Learning and Skills Centre continues apace.
“As a part of the ongoing work, the interior of the building will be fully refurbished, and a multi-use pod will be constructed in the main hall to maximise the available teaching space. Accessibility improvements will also be made with the addition of an access ramp to the front of the building and the installation of a new platform lift.”
Planning permission for conversion work was granted in late 2024, and Bermar Building Co Ltd was later appointed as the successful delivery partners.
The building’s interior will also be fully refurbished for use as a learning space, with a new lift installed to improve further accessibility and a pod constructed in the main hall to maximise the space. Work is expected to be complete by late 2026/early 2027.
Run by Leeds City College, the new centre will offer courses to help residents upskill in growing sectors like technology and innovation. The subjects covered will range from coding, virtual reality, 2D printing and general IT skills, to English and maths.
“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,” Jo Dye, Leeds City College’s Director of Curriculum for Adults, previously said.
“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.”
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 the college’s RE: Workshop, which focuses on creative upcycling.
Bermar Building Co Ltd was also recently announced as the specialist contractors for £5 million plans to refurbish Morley Town Hall as a focal point of the local community. Plans will include the installation of a new café/bar, and upgrades to the theatrical experience in the Alexandra Hall.