Bridgend College has revealed ambitious plans to build a new campus in Bridgend town centre. The scheme includes the demolition of the existing police station site in Cheapside which will soon be vacant, together with the demolition of an old condemned multi-storey car park which is no longer operational.

The College’s ambition is to create a zero carbon building, with twenty first century standard learning and teaching facilities for post-16 education in Bridgend, with community benefits including a 200 seat theatre, coffee shop and flexible meeting spaces.

These transformative plans represent a £50 million investment in the skills and training of young people in Bridgend and those members of the community who need opportunities to retrain and gain valuable employability skills. The investment will also regenerate Bridgend town centre, improving the public realm and reducing our environmental impact, with plans to connect to Bridgend’s new district heating system. This investment, which is partly funded by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Learning Communities programme, will play a key role in the regeneration of Bridgend town centre, supporting local businesses and promoting the use of public transport to reach the town .

The Principal and Chief Executive of Penybont College, Simon Pirotte OBE, said: “I am extremely proud of the ongoing journey of success that the college has been on; these plans represent the strong intention we have, together with our key partners, to regenerate Bridgend town centre. We are passionate and committed to the communities we serve and this project provides exciting opportunities for education and lifelong learning in Bridgend.

Our strategic plan outlines our ambition to provide 21st century quality facilities for our students, our staff and the communities we serve, along with a continued reduction in our carbon emissions. I am extremely pleased that these plans will deliver on both of these commitments.”