THE £21m redevelopment of Coleg Cambria’s Wrexham campus will begin in the New Year.
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Cambria’s Yale site is to undergo a major overhaul that will feature a three-storey complex equipped with the latest digital technology, a 200-seat conference hall, new training kitchens and restaurant, a cutting-edge study space, revolutionary sports facilities and IT suites.
Hundreds of jobs will be created during construction, and the commitment – including more than £13m from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme – sees Cambria delivering on its promise of spending more than £35m on new education facilities in Wrexham town.
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Coleg Cambria chief executive David Jones says the investment means they will have spent almost £60m on modern buildings for learners and apprentices since the merger of Deeside and Yale colleges in 2013.
“The plans we have for Yale are going to be a major boost for our students and staff, but also for Wrexham, the town centre and the community,” said Mr Jones.
“Our Governors and staff deliver on our promises and work hard to ensure the first-class opportunities and academic standards we provide are met by the quality of our facilities and environment.
“We are thrilled to have been given the green light and are now fully focused on building a new Yale that the town and everyone at Coleg Cambria can be proud of, contributing to the economy and raising aspirations in north east Wales through skills training, apprenticeships and further career opportunities.”
Wrexham County Borough Council has granted planning permission and work is set to begin in January for completion in readiness for the 2020/21 academic year.
Politicians and public sector and industry leaders from across the county have welcome the decision.
Among them was council leader Cllr Mark Pritchard, who said: “Coleg Cambria is a key partner for the council and we have been delighted by the way the college has developed since 2013.
“This development is brilliant news for Wrexham and builds on the £10m investment in engineering and construction training at Bersham Road.”
The Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams, added: “I’m delighted to have announced our decision to fund redevelopment work at Coleg Cambria’s Yale site.
“A key element of Band B of the 21st Century Schools and Education programme is to invest in projects that seek to turn our education institutions into community hubs; allowing them to become more than just schools.
“Once the renovation work has been completed, the facilities provided at the new Yale site will greatly benefit the local community and ensure that students are able to learn in a modern environment which is truly befitting of the 21st Century.”
