We are changing...
We are delighted to announce the long-term future of Northampton College.
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Background – what is proposed?
The College has been successful in securing Approval in Detail from the Learning & Skills Council to bring forward a transformation of the two sites in Northampton, costing over £70 million.
The project will include:
- A complete demolition and rebuild of the Booth Lane campus
- A substantial extension at Lower Mounts in the Town Centre
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Booth Lane – the details
The College's largest site at Booth Lane has been expanding ad hoc since the 1970s as popularity and demand for its services has grown. Even with the purchase of Boothville Middle School in 2004, the College has outgrown its present accommodation.
Many of the buildings are dated and not fit for purpose. The layout is not ideal and requires learners and staff to transfer between buildings too often.
The College wishes to complement the schools re-build programme led by Northamptonshire County Council by creating an equally attractive educational environment for post-16 learners.
It is proposed to demolish all 21,000m² of existing buildings and replace them with a new building of 27,000m² providing a high quality, modern design fit to educate and skill the County's students in the 21st century.
The new College building will be located on the St Gregory's Road corner of the site moving it away from local residents where it will cause minimal disturbance to neighbours during construction.
The site will be landscaped throughout to make it a visually attractive environment in which to work and study. The former school playing field is left untouched by the proposal.
The entire proposal will make the College at Booth Lane a better neighbour for local people living around the site.
Construction of the new buildings will incorporate a high level of environmental sustainability and energy efficient technology.
The car park remains the same size with around 765 spaces.
IIt is anticipated the new building will be ready for use in 2012.
Temporary buildings and car parking will be created within the site during construction to enable learners to continue their education uninterrupted during this period.
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Lower Mounts – the details
The Lower Mounts site is important to the College as it provides a presence in the town centre.
The development proposal at Lower Mounts comprises an additional building of 3000m² .
It is planned that the College will relocate its Hair & Beauty salon and create an attractive haute cuisine training restaurant facility.
IIt is anticipated the new extension will be ready for use in 2010.
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Benefits
The transformation of Northampton College will deliver:
- An investment of over £70million in the educational facilities available to the Borough.
- A pivotal contribution by Northampton College in helping to deliver the strategic economic growth and regeneration ambitions for the town.
- A modern, fit for purpose, learning environment for the local community that will help maximise participation and achievement and contribute to the necessary skills development in the town and Northamptonshire.
- High quality, well designed buildings that embrace the sustainability agenda and provide iconic public buildings.
- Better building layout in order to maximise usage of space at both sites.
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