Plans to relocate Bangor college campus approved at appeal by planning inspectors

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai relocation proposal had been opposed by Gwynedd council but overturned at appeal by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales

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Owen HughesDaily Post chief reporter

13:20, 27 APR 2022

Plans by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai to relocate its Bangor campus to Tŷ Menai on Parc Menai have been approved (Image: Grwp Llandrillo Menai)

Plans by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai to relocate its Bangor campus to Parc Menai have been approved by the Planning and Environment Decisions Wales despite opposition from Gwynedd council.

The proposal to move to Tŷ Menai came as college bosses warned the existing city centre Ffriddoedd campus needed urgent maintenance and an estimated £18m merely to remain weatherproof and operational.

But there was some opposition locally to the plan to move students and staff out of the city, which is already struggling with footfall numbers.

This saw officers and the planning committee at Gwynedd council oppose the relocation last September and Welsh Government ministers have been encouraging a 'town centre first' policy approach from local authorities.

However the appeal had already been lodged due to frustration over delays with the planning process and Welsh Government inspectors have given the proposal the green light.

The £13m project will be jointly-funded by the Welsh Government and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

The Grŵp will move Coleg Menai's existing provision from the Ffriddoedd Road and Friars site to the building on Parc Menai, which has stood largely empty in recent years.

The college said this will see the creation of cutting-edge, hi-tech facilities for students at Tŷ Menai, as well as strengthened links between further education and future employers.

A major feature of the Tŷ Menai development would be the consolidation of the Grŵp’s creative industries provision into a Centre of Excellence, with courses ranging from performing arts and music technology to games design and TV production all available on the same site.

The Campus would also house modern training facilities for other priority sectors identified by the Welsh Government and North Wales Regional Skills Partnership, including hospitality and catering and lifelong learning.

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The Grŵp has already moved into the adjacent Llwyn Brain building as a hub for the Busnes@LlandrilloMenai provision, including the delivery of apprenticeships, professional and work-based programmes.

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai chief executive Dafydd Evans said: "We have long identified that the Ffriddoedd site has come to the end of its useful life and that the young people of Gwynedd deserve better. Given that Tŷ Menai is positioned alongside businesses, it is perfectly located for greater partnership working with industry. This will help us to ensure that the learning and training opportunities offered to young people meet the skills requirements of local employers.”

Coleg Menai Principal Aled Jones-Griffith added: "By aligning education with business, we believe that this development would also be a catalyst to reignite Parc Menai as an attractive destination for new companies. But most importantly, it would give the young people coming to Coleg Menai access to the high quality sector leading educational facilities.”