A new £1.4m construction centre of excellence is planned for Ystrad Mynach college campus. The new Coleg y Cymoedd centre could open from as soon as September.
A new £1.4m centre of excellence where construction students can learn their trade could soon be built in the Rhymney Valley. Coleg y Cymoedd has announced the new facility, which will serve learners across the South Wales valleys, is being planned for its Ystrad Mynach campus - and it could open its doors next autumn.
The project will be equally funded by Coleg y Cymoedd and Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme, and will include an extension to the current construction building - as well as significant upgrades to the existing centre and its equipment.
It will include the creation of a brand-new UKAS-accredited gas training assessment facility, to deliver a wide range of specialist gas training courses.
As a result, the existing curriculum will be expanded to include brickwork, plumbing, plastering and gas training, with further plans to expand into other areas of teaching such as painting and decorating. Industry-focused activity - including short courses - will also be offered.
Construction work will run alongside classes at the current centre, while upgrades to existing facilities will take place over the summer to minimise disruption, according to the college. The existing centre will remain open until the new one is complete.
Judith Evans, principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, said: "We are thrilled to announce our exciting plans for the Construction Centre of Excellence at our Ystrad Mynach campus.
"Coleg y Cymoedd is committed to providing our learners with access to the latest industry-standard technologies and focused training programmes.
"With its range of modern facilities, the new centre will provide a valuable resource for both learners and employers across South Wales, ensuring young people leave college highly-skilled to meet the needs of industry. We look forward to unveiling the project next year."
Construction could begin on site by March 2017, and could then be completed in September 2017, subject to planning approval.
Coleg y Cymoedd says the project brings its recent investment in its four campuses - at Ystrad Mynach, Nantgarw, Rhondda and Aberdare - to £70m in recent years. That includes a new £22m campus which is currently being built in Aberdare, to replace the existing facility in Cwmdare.
