£7m building to transform college

SMART new look . . . the proposed campus

Learning hub kickstarts eight-stage masterplan

OLDHAM College is to get a £7 million landmark building as part of ambitious plans to transform its campus.

The five-storey “learning hub” for 14 to 19-year-olds will provide a new, prominent main entrance at the corner of Middleton Road and Rochdale Road.

A planning application has been submitted for the building which will house student services and modern classrooms.

Construction, funded by £2 million from the Skills Funding Agency and £5million from the college, is due to start in January 2013, with completion by the end of the year.

A £70 million overhaul of the campus fell through in 2009 when the national college rebuilding project collapsed. Bosses later unveiled £7 million proposals to clad the 1960s tower block — but has decided it can now provide the new building for the same money.

They hope it will be the first stage of an eight-phase plan to overhaul the college by aound 2016. Much of the campus dates from the 1960s.

At its conclusion the overhaul would include:

:: An “innovation hub” for construction, engineering and green technology.

:: A sports zone with a multi-use, all-weather pitch and changing facilities, also open to the public.

:: Demolishing the existing Bronte and Bevan buildings.

:: Reducing the tower block to two storeys.

:: A new creative services centre.

:: A centre producing the college’s energy.

:: A tree-lined boulevard running along Rochdale Road, a plaza, outdoor areas and better disabled access. Retained buildings will include Grange Arts Centre and the nursery.

The aim is to attract more funding for the future phases and to use money saved from the lower cost of running modern buildings.

Laing O’Rourke will carry out the work and create between 15 and 20 apprenticeships linked to the project, and offer placements and work with staff.

College principal Alun Francis said: “Construction is a huge part of what we offer so it was important to us that whatever we did should involve our students.”

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