A pre-application consultation has opened on proposals for a new Bridgend College campus at Cheapside in Bridgend town centre.
The accompanying planning statement confirms the new development will replace the College’s existing Cowbridge Road campus.
The project is a cornerstone in Bridgend Council’s latest “masterplan” for the town centre. It’s expected the new campus would relocate at least 1,000 staff and students closer to the town centre, increasing day-to-day footfall.
The campus will be split into two separate sites.
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The main building would be built at the current Bridgend police station, with a smaller “tower” built on the current Cheapside multi-storey car park. The car park closed in April 2021 due to concerns about its structural soundness.
The main building will house an internal courtyard, large cafeteria, 200-seat auditorium, administration offices and student support centre. Additionally, the main building will house the College’s performing arts, catering, visual arts, business, cosmetology/hair & beauty, additional learning needs (ALN) and independent living skills (ILS) departments.
The tower building – made up almost entirely of traditional classrooms – will house a cafe run by the college’s ILS students, additional administration offices, as well as teaching spaces for the College’s childcare, social care, health & wellbeing and higher education courses.
The two buildings will be substantial, reaching up to six storeys in height. Early artist impressions suggested the buildings would be clad in corten (pre-weathered steel), but this has since changed to aluminium. The main building will also have a “green roof” with solar panels installed.
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There’s a heavy emphasis on “sustainable transport”. More than 100 cycle parking spaces are to be provided. The only vehicle parking area – located to the rear of the tower building – is relatively small and would be restricted to accessible parking, charging points and the College’s vehicle fleet.
The site is considered to be “highly accessible” by walking, cycling and public transport, with separate proposals for a more direct walking/cycling link between Brackla Street and Bridgend railway station.
Full details on the consultation are available here. Comments need to be in by 12th October 2022.
A full planning application is expected to be submitted to Bridgend Council later this year.
