Work starts on £70M Wolverhampton construction education centre

Work is due to begin this week on the multi-million pound conversion of a derelict brewery site in Wolverhampton into a state-of-the-art construction and skills campus and business park.

The deal to buy the 12-acre Springfield Brewery site in Wolverhampton city centre was completed by the University of Wolverhampton earlier this year.

The Springfield Campus will become the home of the new West Midlands Construction University Technical College (WMCUTC), which will be sponsored by the University, along with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The University’s own School of Architecture and the Built Environment is also expected to move to the new site.

The WMCUTC will provide education for up to 600 14-19-year-olds specialising in construction and the application of IT in the built environment, and preparing students for technical careers in the construction industry.

Principal contractors Thomas Vale and technical services providers Mott MacDonald are now scheduled to commence preparatory work for the new build.

The development, designed by Associated Architects, will see the conversion of part of the site including a Grade II listed building, as well as constructing a three-storey extension.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “The University is incredibly proud to have invested in such a fantastic opportunity for the future generation of construction and built environment professionals.

“This is all part of our major investment plan, “Our Vision, Your Opportunity” which will generate £250m of investment over the next five years as we seek to focus on economic growth and creating jobs.

“The Springfield Campus will really put the City of Wolverhampton and the Black Country on the map and we’re delighted to be working with the CITB and many other major construction businesses as part of this project.

“This will see the creation of a skills pathway for construction education and training from the age of 14 right through to senior professionals.”

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