Wakefield College City Centre Campus work set to begin…

Work officially starts on Wakefield College's City Centre Campus

There was an air of excitement around Wakefield College last week as contracts were signed to mark the beginning of work on the redevelopment of its City Centre Campus. Bosses from Wakefield College, GB Building Solutions and YORbuild were on hand to break the first turf as work on the first phase officially started.

Phase one of the project will see the existing B Block redeveloped to include a pedestrianised walkthrough, part of the council’s plan to have a traffic free zone,  connecting the College to the city centre. The new block will house a new library, teaching accommodation and enhanced social facilities.

College Principal, Sam Wright said: “We are delighted and excited about starting this major redevelopment of our main City Centre Campus. This project will bring a modern, high-quality and vibrant learning facility to the heart of the City.”

Martin Smout, chairman and chief executive of GB Building Solutions, says: “The first phase of this exciting new development will provide students with the facilities to enhance their education and social skills, it will also add to GB’s extensive experience in the Education sector having provided over 21,000 pupil spaces in the last six years”.

Features in phase one will include disabled parking, a safe drop-off point, cafe terrace, seating areas, cycle stands, and landscaping with trees and planted areas. Designers are promising that the phase one refurbishment and new build will transform the public view of the College from both Wood Street and Bond Street.

The Margaret Street site will enable the College to deliver high-quality education to a wide range of learners including general FE learners, Sixth Form students, HE students and adults.

YORbuild’s Development and Performance Manager Lee Parkinson commented “YORbuild was selected by Wakefield College as its procurement route for the scheme due to the frameworks efficient and flexible mini competition processes and the integrated value adding solutions. Wakefield College participated in the recent Open for Business Event hosted by YORbuild in Castleford where over 200 businesses were engaged to explore opportunities within the supply chain. In addition we have already been working closely with the college to ensure that G B Solutions employment and skills plan is aligned to the skills provision of Wakefield College to ensure that their scheme provides the maximum opportunity to young people in the local area.”