Stockport College, a feature of the town for over 130 years, has announced the completion of its redevelopment project which will provide a modern and sustainable learning environment for thousands of students of all ages.
The town centre college has invested in two new, sustainably designed buildings as well as a remodelled landscape. The new estate will complement existing facilities which include industry standard environments for the construction trades, engineering, and motor vehicle industries.
Officially opened by Mayor of Stockport David Wilson, the college’s new front of house facility, the Lyme Building, features a main reception, state-of-the-art hair, beauty and nail salons, science labs, a business centre, Costa Coffee lounge and Student Services hub.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in conjunction with the Greater Manchester Business Board, we’re proud to support the College’s vision for redevelopment and contributed a £16m grant towards the redevelopment costs through the Local Growth Fund programme, which was further supplemented by funding from the Department for Education as well as the college itself.
As well as the new Lyme building, the project also provided a new Arts & Creative Media Centre, a refurbished Higher Education centre, and a new internal courtyard which has been designed to provide students with a safe and friendly space.
Mayor of Stockport, David Wilson, said:
“I am delighted to open the new college building and estate. The project investment over the last few years has been significant and I am confident that Stockport College will be a strong asset to the local community. It is the latest addition to the continued regeneration of the town centre and will be a pipeline for the talented workforce our local businesses need to address the skills gaps and job vacancies they continue to grapple with.”
James Scott, Principal and CEO of The Trafford College Group, said:
“When Stockport College joined Trafford College in 2018 it was our priority to give the local community a further and higher education place of learning it could be proud of. Alongside our recent Ofsted judgement of ‘Good’, we are delivering on this priority.
There is an increasing national and regional focus on skills and technical education through new opportunities such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs). The new college estate represents our ongoing commitment to meeting the skills priorities of our local area providing students with the best possible educational experience, and ensuring access to the resources they need to succeed.”
The redevelopment project was designed with the needs of students, staff, and sustainability in mind.
Much of the new design incorporates features such as extensive water-saving measures, energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling systems and enhanced solar reflective glazing making it an environmentally friendly building, with the new Lyme building being awarded a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.
Lou Cordwell, Chair of the Greater Manchester Business Board (LEP), said:
“We are proud to support the redevelopment project of Stockport college. The opening of the new campus estate is giving thousands of students access to a modern and sustainable learning environment, which is helping to meet the skills priorities of Greater Manchester and create a talented workforce, leading to more productive companies, benefiting our economy in the city-region.”
The new campus estate is the result of six years of planning with construction, design and project partners in Seddon Construction, Project 3 Architects, Abacus Cost Management Ltd, Rider Levett Bucknall, Crookes Walker, WSP and Fusion Project Management Ltd.
The new college building and estate was officially opened by the Mayor of Stockport on March 24th, 2023.
For more information about the project, please contact the college’s press office:
Carl Miles – Director of Marketing and External Relations
0161 952 4862 / carl.miles@tcg.ac.uk