Coleg Cambria holds ceremony to mark beginning of work on £20m Wrexham development

WORK is underway on the £20million redevelopment of Coleg Cambria Yale.

Chief executive David Jones was joined by Wrexham Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths and special guests today (Friday) for a turf-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.

The Grove Park Road site is the latest to undergo a revolutionary refurbishment following multi-million pound improvements to Cambria buildings at Deeside, Northop and nearby Bersham Road.

Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction are to build new facilities including a three-storey complex equipped with the latest digital technology, a 200-seat conference hall, new training kitchens and restaurant, a cutting-edge study space, a revolutionary sports space and IT suites.

Up to 500 workers will be employed during construction, and the project – supported by £13m from the Welsh Government’s 21^st Century Schools and Education Programme – sees the college delivering on its promise of spending more than £35m on new education facilities in Wrexham.

Mr Jones said it was a proud day for Cambria, and the community.

“The Yale site is key to our continued success both academically and in the town of Wrexham, so we are delighted to put a spade in the ground and declare work is officially underway,” he said. 

“Everyone at Cambria looks forward to seeing the completed site, which will be unveiled in September 2020, ready for that academic year.

“Wynne Construction are already in place and laying the foundations, they have a lot of hard work ahead but will do an incredible job I’m sure.”

Mr Jones added: “It’s an exciting time for Wrexham, and we are proud to be at the heart of that.”

Wynne Construction has already started preparing the infrastructure for the 96,000 sq ft complex, which takes Cambria’s investment in new buildings to more than £60m since the merger of Yale and Deeside colleges in 2013.

The company’s Quantity Surveyor David Wynne said the firm embedded key local supply chain members in the design process, adding this will be one of their “flagship projects”, having already built Cambria’s £14.5m Deeside Sixth Form Centre.

He added: “We are pleased to once again be working in Wrexham and will be inviting local contractors and suppliers to work with us.”

Mrs Griffiths has been a long-time supporter of the college and championed the development since day one.

She was “proud” to be part of the ceremony and said: “Coleg Cambria plays such a pivotal role in Wrexham and north east Wales. 

“Having already invested heavily in their Bersham Road campus, the ambitious plans outlined for the college’s Yale site will create modern, state-of-the-art facilities that will be amongst the best in the country.

“This major redevelopment right in the heart of the town has received substantial Welsh Government support and will enable hundreds of students across the region to reach their full potential.”

Education Minister Kirsty Williams added: “The facilities provided at theale site will greatly benefit the local community and will ensure that students are able to learn in a modern environment which is truly befitting of the 21st Century.”

The facilities provided at the new Yale site will greatly benefit the local community and ensure that students are able to learn in a modern environment which is truly befitting of the 21st Century.”