In 2022, Counterculture was commissioned by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council to help Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub (TLCCH) develop a Full Business Case for investment in the former Todmorden Community College building. Despite only having been open for 9 months, TLCCH had already become a popular venue in the local community housing the local foodbank, various sports clubs, business start-ups, Todmorden Maker and a Climate Challenge College. The objective was to help TLCCH secure an award of £1.74m from the Towns Fund to improve the building’s financial and environmental sustainability and help bring it back into use as a Learning Centre and Community Hub for wider adult education, skills development, and community engagement and participation. The majority of funding would be used for building improvements, providing high-quality, affordable and accessible teaching, research, enterprise and workshop accommodation.
Using a mixture of site visits, desk research, feasibility analysis, stakeholder consultation and strategic planning, and working closely with the TLCCH board, management and other appointed consultants (architect, QS, environmental consultant), Counterculture successfully developed an HMT Green Book compliant Full Business Case, including: a clear demonstration of market failure within the area and that no other fund would be able to address and alter this market failure with long term sustainability; evidence that proposals would deliver clear investment into the area and have clear and defined positive impact on education, skills, economic growth, transformation of existing derelict buildings and the densification and re-purposing of buildings to meet evidenced demand; evidence that the project was deliverable within the stringent timescales of the Towns Fund; and evidence that other funding was available and ready should the application be successful.
Work was delivered on time and to budget and resulted in the full offer from the Towns Fund. In addition, the process helped TLCCH to review its organisational strategy and capital investment plans.
I’d like to pass on our sincere thanks from the TLCCH Board for the excellent work Counterculture have done for us in getting our bid for the Todmorden Town Deal over the line and accepted. All have said it’s been a pleasure to work with the Counterculture team and the quality of work, professionalism and commitment has been exceptional.
Dave Wardell – Chair, TLCCH
The redevelopment progressed significantly in 2023-4, driven by £1.8m secured through Town Deal funding. Collaborating with community members in a public engagement programme led by architecture students from the University of Sheffield, the Centre advanced plans to improve building access, safety and sustainability initiatives such as solar panels. Workshops, studios, business and conference spaces have been improved and equipped, including a community woodworking space. The largest proportion of funding has been spent on making the building more energy efficient, with LED lighting, solar thermal hot water, improved insulation and photo-voltaic electricity generation.
Despite high inflation, rising utility bills and a challenging financial environment, the Centre has delivered significant improvements, driven down utility costs and continues to pursue new partnerships and funding opportunities, including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, CBMC and the Carbon Co-op.
In Summer 2025, the TLCCH will be switching on the solar panels for the Todmorden Tomorrow Festival, celebrating their efforts whilst showcasing green and retrofit solutions.