Wates lands Stockport College contract
Wates Construction has been appointed to carry out a £16m redevelopment of Stockport College’s Wellington Road campus.
The agreeing of a contract follows the completion of a merger between the college and its Trafford counterpart, which will see both colleges retain their existing names and campus sites.
Work will include the creation of a new courtyard, improved pedestrian routes and campus access, a new visitor entrance, the modernisation of existing buildings and the construction of a business centre as the college looks to improve links with local businesses.
Designed by Project 3 Architects, the regenerated campus will include a colonnade fronting the reception and performing arts building to create a feature entrance. A two-storey glazed internal ‘street’ will provide a light and airy walkway and relaxation area connecting the reception to the art workshops.
Wates was appointed to the project via the North West Construction Hub’s high value framework. The intention is to deliver the project in time for the 2020-21 academic year.
Paul Dodsworth, business unit director for Wates in the North, said: “We have a long standing presence in Stockport having completed the College’s construction and engineering workshops back in 2010 and more recently, building Redrock, the town’s new £45m leisure development.
“We’re therefore proud to be continuing our role in the enhancement of Stockport’s built environment with this appointment to redevelop the Wellington Road campus for Stockport College.”
Lesley Davies, college principal and chief executive, added: “The redevelopment will create a modern and ‘fit for purpose’ learning environment enabling the college to deliver and house outstanding teaching and learning.
“This is central to our aim of learners at the college being ahead of the competition in terms of successfully securing meaningful employment and progression to higher level study.”
In June, the college held a public exhibition on a £24m scheme that also included looking at potential redevelopment of surplus parts of the site, plans that Place understands are still progressing.
