Regeneration plans for West Bromwich Town Centre Move One Step Closer

Regeneration plans for West Bromwich town centre moved one step closer this week, with planning consent granted for the new £80 million Sandwell college.
 
The 250,000 sq ft flagship college will be one of the first regeneration projects in the heart of the town centre to come out of the ground, providing Sandwell students with the opportunity to gain invaluable new skills.
 
Karen Walker, chief executive of RegenCo, the urban regeneration company for West Bromwich, Smethwick and Hill Top said: “Approval for these exciting plans is fantastic news for West Bromwich.  The new college will significantly enhance the educational offering within Sandwell.  The building will be designed to the highest of standards and deliver a much deserved modern environment for the students in Sandwell.
 
“The new facilities will enable future generations to thrive, aiding the economic growth of the town.  We anticipate that it will make a tremendous contribution to the regeneration of the area, setting the benchmark for the urban renaissance in West Bromwich.”
 
The new multi-million pound college will see all three current campuses combined into a modern, state of the art building, built on what is currently three acres of brownfield land on Spon Lane, West Bromwich.
 
Val Bailey, Principal of Sandwell College, said: “This is a dream vision for Sandwell College and receipt of the planning application means we are one step closer to building this key education facility.”
 
With funding from Advantage West Midlands and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the new Sandwell College will accommodate some 10,000 students and up to 500 staff members.
 
The new college will benefit from the adjacent metro system which provides excellent access to both Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
 
Construction of the multi million pound College is anticipated to commence late  2008, with completion ready for the 2010/2011 academic year. The existing campuses will remain in operation until the new college opens its doors.