BUILDING work has begun on the new Gloucestershire College campus as part of
the £100m regeneration project in Cinderford’s Northern Quarter.
The purpose-built Forest of Dean Campus will be located on brownfield land next to Steam Mills Lake and is expected to be completed in time to welcome students in September 2018.
The whole regeneration scheme will include 200 new homes and is set to create around 1,000 new jobs.
Following completion of the land transfer between the college, the Forestry Commission and the Forest of Dean District Council, contractors have now started preparing the ground at the former mining area ready for construction of the access road to the campus.
Roberts Limbrick Architects of Gloucester have designed the centre for post-16 education, with Barnwood Construction responsible for the build.
College principal Matthew Burgess was joined by Barnwood Construction managing director Simon Carey, site manager Paul Limbrick, college director of estates James Billingham, and Graham Morgan of the Cinderford Regeneration Board to “break ground” at the college site last week.
Mr Burgess said: “Gloucestershire College and its partners have been committed to the Northern Quarter project for several years, so it’s very exciting to have finally reached the point at which work is getting under way.
“The new Forest of Dean Campus will offer students from the Forest of Dean and beyond the chance to complete their qualifications in purpose-built facilities, within what promises to be a thriving area.
“We expect to be welcoming our existing and new students into the new college in time for the new academic year in September 2018, and in the meantime lessons will continue as usual at our campus at Five Acres.”
The new campus will boast modern information and communication technology suites; construction workshops; industry standard training kitch-ens; modern teaching spaces for healthcare, early years and outdoor education; a contemporary learning resource centre and a commercial hair and beauty training salon.
Catering and hospitality students will also put their training into practice in a public restaurant within the building.
Graham Morgan said: “The start of the college construction is fantastic news for Cinderford and the Forest.
“We are extremely happy to see the work commencing after a long period of positive partnership working which has enabled completion of the recent land exchange, start of the spine road and now the beginning of the new college build.
“We’d like to thank Gloucestershire College for remaining committed to the project and the Forest.”
Cllr Nigel Moor, cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Today marks an important milestone for both the spine road project and the thousands of young people who will benefit from a bright academic future as a result of this work.”
A spokesperson for the Forest council said: “This college announcement is a major milestone for
the Northern Quarter regeneration programme, which will see brand new educational facilities for the young people of the Forest of Dean and wider community.
It is an example of what can be achieved through pro-active partnership working.”