Construction began in November 2013, and was completed in August 2014. It was originally set to open in September 2014, a month after the opening of the "Regional Automotive Hub". It is called "Blackburn Sports & Leisure Centre", and includes a six lane pool, learner pool, two sports halls, gym, aerobics studio, wet/dry changing facilities, as well as a new coach drop off point. It replaces the 1980s "Waves Water Fun Centre", opened by Princess Anne, which closed in February 2015, and was demolished during March 2016. In January 2008, the college was rated as "outstanding" in an Ofsted report, which took place in November 2007. In September 2008, it was one of five colleges in the North West to be awarded Beacon status by the Quality Improvement Agency. The College currently has a status of "requires improvement" with Ofsted and is no longer a Beacon status QIA college. The recent monitoring visit of the College continues to grade the College as "requires improvement".