Willmott Dixon secures second project in a year with Queen Mary University of London
Latest project follows work to enlarge the Informatics and Technology Learning building in Bethnal Green
Follows similar transformational work to boost skills and opportunity in Manchester
Willmott Dixon has been chosen by Bridgend College for the £60m project to build its new Town Centre Campus development.
The College is relocating from its current base at Cowbridge Road Campus to a site previously occupied by the former Police Station and a multi-storey car park at Cheapside, in the heart of Bridgend. The new 13,000 m² development, which Willmott Dixon was procured to build under the SEWSCAP 3 framework, will target being net zero in operation when it’s completed in the summer of 2026.
Willmott Dixon is teaming up with Rio Architects on the new campus that will provide exceptional teaching and learning facilities for a wide range of courses for post-16 year old education in Bridgend. Encompassing two new buildings, it includes a 200-seat theatre, hair and beauty salons, recording and dance studios, design workshops, flexible meeting spaces and more.
It represents one of the biggest ever investments in Bridgend for the training of young people and members of the community who need to retrain and gain valuable employability skills.
Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon in Wales:
“We are delighted to be chosen for this transformational project in Bridgend. With a strong presence across south Wales, it follows our work to deliver the Police Learning Centre for South Wales Police in Bridgend, which was completed three years ago.”
“Just like then, our focus will be on supporting the ‘local pound’ by using regional supply chain partners where possible and working with students at Bridgend College to support their own learning journeys.”
The redevelopment is partly funded by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme and will play a key role in the regeneration of Bridgend Town Centre, supporting local businesses and utilising public transport links into the town.
Vivienne Buckley, Principal and CEO:
“We are excited about the aspirational plans to create a vibrant new town centre campus in the heart of Bridgend. Our ambition is to create a net-zero carbon building, bringing twenty-first century learning and teaching facilities to Bridgend.”
This contract follows a series of major developments Willmott Dixon has carried out to improve further education facilities in towns and cities across England and Wales. Recently it completed LTE Group's City Campus Manchester (below), the largest investment in further education and skills in Manchester for 30 years.