Build work on Nottingham College’s new City Hub campus, in the heart of the city centre, is now complete.
Builders and main contractors, Wates formally handed over the building to the College last week and work now begins to relocate more than 2000 students and 200 staff into the building.
The handover marks over two years of build works, and many more on planning, to re-purpose the former brownfield site next to the Broadmarsh.
The new college building is situated within the former Narrowmarsh site and complements the surrounding buildings and views of the Lace Market escarpment.
The new £58.5m state-of-the-art City Hub will provide fantastic new learning and community facilities and future employment opportunities to thousands.
With the new building fully functional and operational by the New Year, the College will close its Clarendon and Maid Marian Way campuses.
Central to its estates vision the completion of the City Hub now ensures the College occupies modern, fit-for-purpose, and expansive campuses at key locations across the City, including its 2015 redeveloped Basford Hall, its iconic Highfields campus within the Nottingham Science Park and its renowned High Pavement sixth form campus, on the edge of the city centre.
Current college students from Science, Early Years, Catering and Hospitality, Business, IT and Computing, Media, Performing Arts, Travel and Tourism, and more will now begin the process of moving which will be managed slowly and in stages starting during this half term and stretching through until Christmas.
Nottingham College City Hub
Wates won national praise for the way in which they implemented Covid-secure measures on the site which enabled them to keep the development open and operatives working, minimising delays.
They received additional praise for how they involved young people in the development and for engaging local suppliers and businesses.
John Carlin, the regional Midlands MD for Wates, said: “This has been such a memorable project for us in large part due to the positive impact it’s left on the city’s stars of tomorrow.”
“We’ve been proud to provide permanent jobs to four school leavers, including two graduates from Nottingham College, created 29 apprenticeships and carried out 65 educational visits, as well as delivering 18 lectures on the Built Environment at the College itself.”
The £58.5m City Hub development is a true partnership effort, receiving a £30m grant from D2N2’s Local Growth Fund allocation and additional funding support from the City Council.
Sajeeda Rose, the Chief Executive of D2N2 said: “We are delighted to see that the Nottingham City Hub is one step closer to welcoming students through its doors. D2N2 is proud to have invested £30million of Local Growth Funding into the construction of this landmark building.”
“The Nottingham City Hub will change the face of skills provision in our area, playing a key part in the pathway towards rebuilding and growing our economy by creating career paths and providing our businesses with the talent they need to thrive and grow.”
The City Council has been fundamental in their support of the project. Cllr David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council and D2N2 board member concludes:
“It was a little over a year ago I visited the City Hub for its topping out ceremony, and given the constraints contractors have worked under during the Covid pandemic, to deliver it in good time is an impressive achievement.”
“We are very pleased to see the new City Hub handed over, one of the first buildings in the Southside area to begin its transformation from brownfield site to a fantastic new venue for Nottingham’s students. I’m particularly pleased that it is sympathetic to the surrounding area while adding a modern façade to the cityscape.”
“I would like to thank Wates Construction for being so considerate to our residents on Cliff Road and the Lace Market in their construction of the City Hub and our partners at Nottingham College. Once the college is able to welcome new students safely, I have no doubt they will enjoy learning in such an excellent facility.”
The project followed the innovative Scape framework which means that the City Hub project can enjoy a lasting legacy within the City as well as act as a beacon of excellence for other educational investment projects.
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