Wynne gears up for start on £14m Wrexham health campus

Coleg Cambria has commissioned the Bodelwyddan-based contractor to build a new facility for students studying health, social care, and wellbeing at the college’s Yale site.

Foundations are to be laid in the next few weeks, with Wynne Construction aiming to finish work in the summer of 2024.

This news follows after demolition completed on the two classroom buildings that had been located on the site, which sits off Grove Park Road. These buildings were deemed no longer suitable for Coleg Cambria’s curriculum, according to planning documents.

The new three-storey building would offer a commercial space, juice bar, simulated medical wards, and virtual reality environments.

Coming in at more than 46,200 sq ft, the Coleg Cambria wellness educational building is roughly 10,000 sq ft larger than its predecessors. It was designed by TACP Architects and also includes an area where students can learn massage treatments and alternative therapies.

Wynne Construction is set to lay foundations in the next few weeks. Credit: via Radar Public Relations

Vicky Edwards, vice principal of technical studies for the college, described the new learning hub as “revolutionary for education in this region”.

“The practical skills and experience our learners will gain, in partnership with leading names in the sector, will ensure this is a living, breathing hub of activity, both academically and as a realistic working environment,” Edwards continued.

“The medical simulation wards are an example of that; they will be like a hospital ward, with a virtual reality setting so the learner will be dealing with real-life, real-time scenarios and challenges, to see how they cope and thrive – that’s something you can’t pick up from the back of a lecture theatre or by reading a textbook.”

This marks the second time Wynne has worked with Coleg Cambria on a project, having also led its £21m campus revamp two years ago.

Graham Dickson, contracts manager at Wynne Construction, said: “It has been fantastic to continue our strong relationship with Coleg Cambria and we look forward to seeing the development come to life over the coming year, as well as providing work experience, apprenticeship opportunities, and chances for the local supply chain as part of this build.

“Our team is already hard at work to ensure a seamless delivery of this complex, which will provide students with a dynamic and interactive learning environment that we hope will inspire and motivate them to reach their full potential.”

For those interested in the planning application for the project, you can find it on Wrexham’s planning portal by using the reference number P/2021/0736.