Cardiff and Vale College has received approval for a new £35m waterfront campus in Barry. The Welsh Government’s mutual investment model will fund most of the project, with construction costs spread over 25 years. The net zero learning campus, set to open in late 2026, will accommodate up to 1,000 students. A part of the college’s existing site will be sold to help fund the project.
The project marks the first use of the mutual investment model to finance a further education college in Wales. As part of a broader £100m expansion plan, the college also intends to build a dedicated campus near Cardiff Airport for advanced technology studies. The Vale of Glamorgan Council has granted planning permission for the new Barry campus, which Bouygues UK will construct, with an estimated cost of £35m.
Expected to commence in early 2025, the construction will involve designing a modern campus with facilities like a hair and beauty salon, a public bistro run by students, and open spaces such as a garden terrace. The campus will incorporate public art designed by college learners. Cardiff and Vale College’s chief executive, Mike James, expressed excitement about the investment, highlighting a commitment to providing top-notch educational environments.
Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Lis Burnett praised the planned campus as a significant development that will offer state-of-the-art education facilities. She emphasized collaboration between public partners to support the project and create educational opportunities in an environmentally sustainable setting. The campus is expected to contribute to local regeneration and placemaking in Barry.
Construction work will commence early next year, and the campus is set to become a landmark educational institution in the area. The project’s completion will signify a notable advancement in education and vocational training opportunities provided by Cardiff and Vale College.