Construction has begun on a £3.8m enterprise centre in Todmorden, supported by the Todmorden Town Deal, marking a major milestone in its £17.5m investment programme.
Through a partnership between Connect Housing and Calder Valley Community Land Trust (CVCLT), an additional investment of £4m has been secured to add affordable rented homes to the project at Ferney Lee in Todmorden.
The Ferney Lee project will create 23 affordable rented offices and workspaces alongside 19 affordable rented homes.
The new Enterprise Centre will offer professional, high-quality space for micro and small to medium businesses, whether start-ups, freelancers wanting to move out of homeworking or more established small to medium enterprises looking to grow. Calder Valley Community Land Trust’s social enterprise subsidiary, CVCLT Enterprise Limited, will run the Enterprise Centre once developed.
The new homes will be built to high standards of energy efficiency, following PassivHaus principles. They will be offered at social rents to people with a connection with, or need to live in, the Todmorden area. Connect Housing will manage the new homes when completed
Pam Warhurst, Chair, Todmorden Town Deal Board, said: “We are delighted that construction of this exciting and important new home for enterprise, business, co-working and collaboration in Todmorden is now underway.
“The Enterprise Centre will meet the need for professional, modern and affordable workspaces and offices for commercial ventures, and for Todmorden people with ideas and passions they want to transform into a local enterprise.
“We are committed to supporting our local economy in particular new skills development, and business and job creation, and the new enterprise centre perfectly embodies this element of our vision.”
The funding package for the Ferney Lee project comprises: 3.8m funding from Todmorden Town Deal, 1.9m from Connect Housing and a further £1.9m provided by Homes England through the Affordable Homes Programme (2021/2026).
Construction at Ferney Lee is being undertaken by PLP Construction with completion anticipated in Spring 2026.
