The £61 million City of Wolverhampton Council development – supported by
Government funding - will establish new educational facilities for City of
Wolverhampton College, Adult Education Wolverhampton and Central Library,
benefitting skills and employment outcomes for residents across the city and
wider region.
It is a major milestone for what is phase two of the masterplan, with contractor
McLaughlin & Harvey set to deliver the council and college’s vision in time for
the start of the 2025/26 academic year.
Enabling works such as utility diversions, welfare construction and hoarding
installation have been completed; strip-out, demolition and ground preparation
works are ongoing; and piling has now started to establish the foundations for
the new building.
Planned works on Central Library will also be announced in due course as
part of the City Learning Quarter investment.
Works are progressing well on the first phase of the City Learning Quarter
masterplan – a new £8.1 million Advanced Technology and Automotive
Centre at the college’s Wellington Road campus – which is due to be
completed by contractor Speller Metcalfe in July 2024 and is being funded by
West Midlands Combined Authority and former Black Country LEP.
Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “It is a very proud moment
to see our City Learning Quarter city centre vision becoming a reality. It will
have a visible and tangible impact on the City of Wolverhampton and its
residents, making a massive difference to everyday life through direct
investment in skills and education - it has the potential to unlock future
opportunities for all in the city.
“We are working hard with City of Wolverhampton College to ensure we not
only deliver a vibrant education hub where we improve the city’s learning,
apprenticeship and employment offers, but also that we retain our best talent,
rather than losing people to different parts of the region.
“The new facilities will provide a vital facelift to our city centre and will be an
inspirational environment for people to learn in, also offering excellent
connectivity to rail, bus, tram and cycle routes.

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“We will be creating an environment where everyone can flourish and it
demonstrates the commitment this city has to investing in its citizens.”
Mal Cowgill, Principal and CEO at City of Wolverhampton College, said: “The
latest milestone in the construction of the City Learning Quarter is great news
for the city, great news for the college and great news for the thousands of
students and apprentices who will benefit from its first-class training facilities
in the years to come.
"The city centre campus, along with the Advanced Technology and
Automotive Centre at the Wellington Road campus in Bilston, will play a major
part in driving up skills levels across the region and further position the college
as a leading education provider in the West Midlands.”
Stuart Anderson, MP for Wolverhampton South West, said: “This marks a
significant milestone for our community. This visionary project, supported by
substantial government funding, reflects our commitment to enhancing
educational opportunities and fostering skills development.
"As the campus takes shape, it will not only rejuvenate our city centre but will
also serve as a catalyst for positive change, particularly for the youth. This
transformative initiative, backed by a diverse range of funding sources,
ensures that Wolverhampton remains at the forefront of educational
excellence.
"I am confident that the City Learning Quarter will leave a lasting legacy for
many years to come, benefiting countless young minds and contributing to the
long-term prosperity of our city. This investment in education is an investment
in the future success of Wolverhampton and its residents.”
Michael Kieran, McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Director, said, “We are
delighted to have reached this important milestone on the Wolverhampton
City Learning Quarter project. We are currently undertaking demolition and
strip-out works to the existing Metro One building, as well as ground
preparation works to the East and West elevations. We are also commencing
piling works.”
The City Learning Quarter city centre facility will be situated around the Old
Hall Street and St George’s Parade area, incorporating a site on the corner of
Garrick Street and Bilston Street, where the former Faces nightclub building
once stood, and utilising the college’s existing Metro One site.
The exciting proposals were initially supported by investment from the council
with further funding coming through a combination of £5 million from the
Towns Fund, £22 million from the Levelling Up Fund and £22 million from the
Department for Education, plus additional government grants and
contributions from the college and council.
It will pave the way for City of Wolverhampton College to move from its out-
dated Paget Road site, which has been identified as land to build much-
needed housing.

The college forecasts that over a 10-year period approximately 45,000 people
will benefit from learning at the City Learning Quarter and around 7,500
apprenticeships will be started.
Its central location and close proximity to the new £150 million transport
interchange will make it easily accessible. It will also boast environmental
benefits in line with council’s climate emergency agenda.