LOG IN26 January 2007
Multi-million pound college future
A NEW multi-million pound building to replace the existing heart-of-town campus is a major building block in Stourbridge college's quest to lead FE education.
The Hagley Road site is to be knocked down and replaced with a £16m state-of the- art complex to create facilities that match the outstanding courses on offer. The building, due to open in 2010, will run alongside plans to bring older campuses into synch with its glowing reputation as a 21st century FE specialist.
Relocation of the Visual and Performing Arts department to a dazzling £23m new campus in Brierley Hill tops an agenda of exciting schemes.
The complex, will also incorporate A Levels and Basic Skills and is due to open in 2009. "This is an excellent opportunity for the college to make a major contribution to the regeneration of Brierley Hill and will not only offer a creative and inspirational learning environment to students regionally but also new and improved cultural, community and social facilities," said college principal, Lynette Cutting.
Although more and more modern facilities have been leased by the college over the past few years, it was felt some of the older sites needed a facelift.
This will ensure facilities reflected the high standards of teaching and learning and satisfy government criteria.
A new 'iconic' four acre complex in Brierley Hill will be funded from the sale of the Longlands site in Brook Street and a building in Church Street.
The college has maintained the Grade II listed Church Street building for the past two years and it is hoped that it will continue to have a practical use for the community as well as providing a unique residential development.
A £13m Construction and Built Environment facility is also planned for the future.
The redevelopment agenda is in response to a government call to step up FE provision, as identified in a crucial piece of legislation last March.
The Further Education White Paper, Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances, plans to transform FE into 'a powerhouse of economic prosperity and social mobility'.
Improved buildings and facilities are considered an integral part of this mission, co-ordinated by the Learning Skills Council (LSC).
©Newsquest Ltd.
This article first appeared in The Stourbridge News.
