First glimpse of Wellingborough’s refurbished Tresham campus
The Tresham College campus in Church Street is set to undergo a major refurbishment after securing £7.5m in funding from Semlep.
The site only currently offers programmes in motor vehicle technology, with many of the 1960s-built buildings too costly to maintain.
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Hide AdBut plans have gone on display for part of the refurbishment which could see more students back at the campus by September next year.
The biggest visual change will see aluminium overcladding on the main tower block with windows replaced.
It is also proposed to have more than 100 car parking spaces at the rear of the tower, accessed from Queen Street, for use by college pupils and staff.
The front part of the site will be re-landscaped to create an ‘open and attractive plaza’.
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Hide AdInternally the ground floor will be re-designed with a reception, cafe, learning resource centre and common room. The remaining areas of the college will be fully refurbished.
Tresham College was set for a brand new campus in the town, but the plans came to an end when it began looking into merging with another college.
It has since merged with The Bedford College Group and part of the Wellingborough campus was demolished in 2017.
When funding for the project was recommended last year, Bedford College Group chief executive officer Ian Pryce said: “Our proposal to refurbish Tresham College’s existing site at Wellingborough will enable us to offer the community across East Northamptonshire a much wider range of courses, qualifications and apprenticeships that address current skills gaps and better meet local employers’ needs.”
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Hide AdAnd Wellingborough Council leader Cllr Martin Griffiths said: “The new education facilities will help with the regeneration of the town centre and will provide a much-needed further education site for not only the borough, but neighbouring districts too.”
To ensure that training opportunities are still available in the town whilst the campus is being refurbished, full-time and part-time courses are being run at Croyland Hall in the town.
Motor vehicle courses will continue to be based at the Church Street campus throughout the planned refurbishment.