Work starts on innovative housebuilding skills centre

Television presenter and architect George Clarke has paid a visit to a construction site in Sunderland, where a ‘next generation’ skills centre for sustainable housebuilders is taking shape.The Housing Innovation & Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) is said to be a groundbreaking training base that will educate and upskill local people with the technical skills to build, retrofit, and create innovative factory-built homes.Local firm Brims Construction is building the new centre, which is situated in Sheepfolds in the heart of the Riverside Sunderland regeneration area. It’s expected to be finished in the summer of 2025.Clarke, who was born locally in Washington, leads one of the venture’s founding partners – the Ministry of Building Innovation & Education (MOBIE) – and he went along to see work commence on the site.“What an opportunity this represents for the people of Sunderland,” he said. “HICSA will be unlike any other training environment around, and it is right at the centre of an emerging community that will change the way people live – change the way we see housing. It’s superb for the city to be innovating in this way, and I am proud to be part of it.”The project got underway after a partnership agreement was signed between Sunderland Collage and the city council, which is serving as the development lead.Not only will the new training centre provide ‘next generation skills for next generation homes’, it is also expected that HICSA will support the city’s advanced manufacturing, carbon reduction and renewable energy ambitions, by working with young people and adults to ensure they are able to install new technologies and construct homes of the future.The construction of HICSA combines old with new, in a sense bridging the past heritage of the area with its future potential.The facility will consist of a re-purposed existing goods shed, on the corner of Hay Street, which will be restored and connected to a new structure that it’s claimed will be large enough to accommodate a full-sized building. This is intended to allow students to experience construction in a “new and exciting way”.Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “[This] is an exciting moment, as we prepare to build an academy that will deliver life-changing opportunities for the young people who will train here, enable us to embrace low carbon and advanced manufacturing, and – ultimately –build more and better homes for our residents too.“This is a brilliant example of partnership working in action. The college and the council coming together to deliver a scheme that will see Sunderland build on its heritage as a city of makers.”Ellen Thinnesen, chief executive of Education Partnership North East, which includes Sunderland College, said: “We’re thrilled to see HICSA about to become a reality.“HICSA will provide a world-class industry gateway, aligned to Sunderland’s ambitious infrastructure investment, and providing a future pipeline of skilled construction workers.“Through technical learning environments students and apprentices will access full, part-time and modularised training options with pathways to jobs and upskilling opportunities for those seeking further career development.“Over the past year technical specialists at Sunderland College have been designing HICSA’s future curriculum, which will equip students and trainees with modern skills for rewarding careers in construction and housing. It’s so exciting for the city, a the region on the cusp of devolution, our college and most of all, for the communities we serve.”Sunderland College will operate the academy with support from a strategic construction and housing industry advisory board, including Clarke’s MOBIE.Main image: George Clarke (centre left) visits the site of a new skills academy in SunderlandAre you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.