Plans for Wolverhampton College technical centre unveiled

An application has been submitted to City of Wolverhampton College planners for a new engineering and motor vehicle studies building to be constructed at the college’s Bilston site on Wellington Road.

This is part of a overhaul of the establishment’s estate which will see a new campus built and form part of the Wolverhampton City Learning Quarter and the sale of its existing main campus on Paget Road.

Governors at the college said the courses that the purpose built technical centre will host are not suitable for the new city centre location.

If approved, the two storey building at the Bilston site will feature workshops for engineers, motor vehicle studies and welding while there will also be ICT classrooms and general teaching areas.

Currently, the Bilston campus is home to construction and sports courses.

In the application, planning agent Astley Partnership said the college’s Telford campus is not affected by the proposals for the Wolverhampton.

Astley Partnership said: "The City of Wolverhampton College senior leadership team made a decision to consolidate delivery of HE and FE courses over two City campuses, rather than three.

"The main campus will be at Metro One, which, when linked with the City Library and the Adult Education Centre, will become the City Learning Quarter.

"Another design team, led by Wolverhampton Council, are looking at this, the major part of the overall scheme.

"Given that construction and sports, which need bespoke large spaces rather than standard classrooms, are already delivered at the Wellington Road campus and that engineering and motor Vehicle studies aren’t suited to the City Centre location, it was decided to relocate these departments, under one roof, to the Wellington Road campus.

“The proposed design follows the industrial theme, which sits well with the other campus buildings and the nature of the activities which will take place within.

"The concept is positive for the campus and will provide the faculty with a modern building in which to deliver the curriculum, in a cost-effective form and which will be similar in environment to that the students will find themselves in at work."