Howarth Litchfield has been appointed to deliver Phase 3 of Kendal College’s Westmorland Shopping Centre campus in Cumbria following a competitive tender process.
The Durham-based firm, known for its work on further and higher education projects, secured the role through the Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) framework.
Dave Pickersgill, technical director at Howarth Litchfield, said: “These works are required to address the urgent need for more space.
“Between 2001 and 2021, the number of full-time learners aged 16–18 tripled from 405 to over 1,300, reflecting the growing demand for Kendal College’s education and training provision across Cumbria and beyond.
“I believe the new Westmorland campus will ultimately accommodate around 450 students who will benefit from a range of specialist spaces and facilities and we are delighted to be able to carry on the good work already undertaken to date during phases one and two.”
The new campus is set to accommodate around 450 students and will feature specialist learning spaces.
The third phase of development will introduce digital media and performance facilities, IT hubs, a mock health ward, a new reception, and a student entrance.
Once the upper floors of the shopping centre were vacated, the college took over the leases of the first-floor shop units and second-floor storage areas to convert the space into an additional campus, which is now open and operational.
While the upper floors have been transformed, the ground floor will remain an active retail environment, with tenants such as Greggs and O2 continuing to operate
Sinéad Kay, chief operating officer and CFO at Kendal College, said: “We are committed to cementing the college’s place at the heart of the town and its community and contributing to the social and economic rejuvenation of the area.”
The project will be delivered in three phases with multiple sectional completions. Some facilities are expected to be ready for the September 2026 academic year with further handovers in December 2026 and a final completion target of Easter 2027.
Mr Pickersgill continued: “The project is not without its challenges as we will be working within a “live” environment, managing construction above an operational shopping centre and alongside an active college campus with access for building works being managed through repurposed service routes originally used by the retail units.”
Article By: Andrew Cunningham, Reporter
Article Posted: 30th June, 2026
Link to Article: Architects appointed for next phase of Kendal College campus | The Westmorland Gazette
