First Minister Carwyn Jones broke the ground on-site in Robertstown on Wednesday morning, 18 months before it is due to open.  

        
First Minister Carwyn Jones with Coleg y Cymoedd construction learner Sian Davies at the new Aberdare college site

The construction of Aberdare’s new £22m Coleg y Cymoedd campus is officially underway as the First Minister of Wales ‘broke the ground’ at the new site.

Carwyn Jones visited the Robertstown site on Wednesday, March 2, where a state-of-the-art new building – jointly funded by Coleg y Cymoedd and the Welsh Government – will replace the college’s existing Cwmdare campus from September 2017.

The 2.7-acre site is a stone’s throw from Aberdare Railway Station, the town centre and the new Aberdare Community School, and is intended to provide learners and staff with significantly improved access to public transport and commuter links. Construction learners from Coleg y Cymoedd, who will benefit from work experience on-site throughout the development, were also guests at the site. 

Mr Jones said: “It gives me great pleasure to cut the first turf of what will, in time, turn into an ultra-modern, highly efficient learning centre right in the heart of Aberdare.

“We are absolutely committed to providing our learners with state of the art facilities in inspiring surroundings that encourage them to fulfil their potential. That’s why we are investing £11m in this development as part of our £1.4bn 21st Century Schools and Education programme, which is transforming schools and colleges across the length and breadth of Wales. This construction will also provide numerous employment opportunities and will be a much-welcome boost for the local community. I very much look forward to returning to Aberdare to see the new campus when it is completed.”

Judith Evans, Sian Davies, Jason Taylor, Liz James, Carwyn Jones and Andrew Morgan at the new Aberdare college site. Plans for the site include the refurbishment of an existing disused railway station building, while a 133-space car park served by an existing access will be built. Judith Evans, principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, accompanied the First Minister on Wednesday morning.

She added: “This is a hugely exciting project and it is fantastic to have Welsh Government support along the way.