Construction firm Bouygues will deliver two new net zero learning campus projects as part a £119m investment for Cardiff and Vale College.
The investment will see a new waterfront campus for 900 students close to the college’s existing ageing Colcot Road building in Barry and a new Centre for Aerospace Training for 2,000 learners and more than 100 staff, at Cardiff Airport - adjacent to its international Centre for Aerospace Training. Work on the projects will start this summer and be completed in mid 2027.
The schemes have been designed by Shephard Robson Architects.
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The campuses are mainly being financed through the Welsh Government’s mutual investment model (MIM), with construction costs repaid over a 25-year period. The college’s committed financial contribution to both projects is around 19%, which will include proceeds from the sale of its existing Colcot Road campus site. It is the first time the Welsh Government has used MIM to fund a college project.
Funding is being provided by Aviva following a competitive process.
The projects are being delivered via the by the Welsh Education Partnership Company (WEPCo).
Funding is being provided by Aviva, which successfully against two Japanese banks.
Cardiff and Vale College Group chief executive Mike James said: “We are delighted to take this major step forward in our investment in education and training across the region.
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“It is with real pleasure that I can say that we are delivering on our commitment to provide first-class teaching and learning environments for learners and the community in the Vale of Glamorgan. The Waterfront Campus and Advanced Technology Centre will also cater to the current and future needs of employers across the Vale and the wider capital region.
“We will continue to work closely with the Welsh Government, Vale of Glamorgan Council and Welsh Education Partnership Company (WEPCo) to ensure this project will be the success that I know it will.”
The post-16 education provider is the third biggest in the 海角视频 with annual revenues of £120m.
Its group chair of corporation, Geraint Evans, said: “When Mike and I first came together in 2011 when Cardiff and Vale College was formed, we agreed that we would build two new campuses in the Vale of Glamorgan. Now, in 2025, we are finally at that stage.
“It’s an extremely exciting for the college, the community and the businesses we serve. It represents a major step forward that will bring sustainable community and economic benefits to the Vale for years to come.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Vikki Howells said: “It is fantastic the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme is bringing these two new campuses to the Vale of Glamorgan. The Barry Waterfront campus and the Advanced Technology Centre will make a real difference to the Vale community.
“Not only will staff and learners benefit from high-quality and sustainable facilities, but it will allow learners to gain skills employers are looking for, opening up opportunities for everyone. I look forward to seeing how this project develops and seeing the benefits these state-of-the art facilities are having on learners and the wider community.”
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Overseeing the project for Bouygues 海角视频 will project director Peter Sharpe, who has led zone one of the multi-million-pound leisure, business and community health facility at Pentre Awel in Llanelli for Carmarthenshire Council.
He said: “We are really looking forward to getting started on these exciting and innovative builds.
“Working on education projects is particularly satisfying as you know that they will bring benefits to young people for generations to come and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of students into these buildings in 2027.”