Gwynedd set to knock back 97,000 sq ft education campus

A conversion of part of Parc Menai into a college campus could be refused at Gwynedd Council’s planning committee next week, while plans for an Aldi store in Bangor have been recommended for approval.

The larger of the two schemes heading to committee on 21 October is a change-of-use application for offices at Tŷ Menai/Technium and Llwyn y Brain in Bangor to become educational facilities for Grŵp Llandrillo-Menai.

According to the application, Grŵp Llandrillo-Menai wishes to relocate because of “the deterioration of the buildings and associated structures on the existing campus and because they no longer adhere to current teaching and health and safety standards.” This will see the college move students from existing facilities at Llangefni.

The education group argued the move “would enable the educational establishment to create a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for creative and digital media, relocate 200 learners from Llangefni to Bangor and improve teaching standards.”

The creation of a campus on the proposed 97,000 sq ft site would serve 700 students, 111 full time lecturers and 339 part time lecturers. It would also create 257 car parking spaces, 10 accessible spaces, and five spaces for mini buses.

However, planning officers have recommended the proposal be refused, due to its impact on the larger site of Parc Menai which it sits on and that “an educational use would have a detrimental effect on employment uses at adjacent sites.”

The plans have been designed by Cadnant Planning and Capita Architecture.

Also due to go before the same committee is an application for the demolition of Blakemore Cash & Carry in Fford Caernafon in Bangor and to erect an Aldi store with 113 associated car parking spaces. This is pictured below and has been recommended for approval.

The 19,400 sq ft site closed in early 2016 and sits adjacent to Dunelm, which still operates. Bampton Property Group submitted the plans on behalf of Aldi. The architect is The Harris Partnership and JLL is the agent.

Aldi Bangor

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‘educational use would have a detrimental effect on employment uses of adjacent sites’ – seems an odd objection given that I’ve only seen positive impacts of UTC’s and colleges adjacent to new employment areas providing qualified and well educated candidates. Gwynedd are in the dark ages,

By Taft

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