College scheme gets green light

A YORKSHIRE college campus is set to undergo a major redevelopment after approval was given for its £54m transformation.

The Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) National Committee has given the go ahead in principle for the work at Wakefield College's Margaret Street Campus.

The LSC is to make a contribution to the cost of the new campus, which will replace the provision currently at the College's Margaret Street and Thornes Park campuses.

Sue Griffiths, vice-principal of Wakefield College, said, “This is a major milestone in the redevelopment of the city centre campus. Having received approval from regional LSC board, we were quietly confident that we would get the final go ahead.”

A team of professionals, including architects, project managers, engineers and cost consultants, was appointed in January to take the project forward.

Work on the three year project is set to start next year, with the majority of students being moved to the Thornes Park Campus while work progresses.

The new campus will comprise centres for the college's sixth form, higher education and employer engagement work, and will give improved access to the public to the performing arts centre, Gaskells restaurant and to its Global Travel Agency.

Public consultation events are now being planned for the coming months, when people will be able to find out more about the plans for the new development.

Heather MacDonald, principal at the college, said: “This is fantastic news for the College. With our new Skills Xchange at Glasshoughton due for completion in November this year, we are now well on our way to realising our ambition of becoming a two campus College, with state of the art buildings and excellent facilities for our students.”