Works have begun at Bedford College’s Cauldwell Street campus that will deliver health, science and digital skills education at the heart of Bedford Borough.
It’s the first of six major Bedford Town Deal projects that are being paid for after a successful bid for £22.6m investment in the local area as part of the Bedford Town Deal programme.
£3m of funding has been set aside for the transformation of Bedford College’s 1959 Tower Block on the Southbank of the River Great Ouse.
The building will be remodelled to upgrade its classrooms to create laboratories and IT suites.
Plans also include opening the College out with a learning corridor through St Mary’s Gardens and the Riverside Bedford connections to the middle of the Town Centre.
The project will create space for a further 250 full-time education students each year, as well as benefiting the existing 4,000 learners at the Bedford campus.
Pat Jones, Deputy Chief Executive at Bedford College, said: “The Tower Block has been part of the Town’s landscape for over 60 years. The regeneration of this building will enable the College to continue to support the community to flourish through the provision of education and skills.
“We are delighted to have been awarded some funding from the Bedford Town Deal to help take this regeneration project forward.”
Samantha Laycock, Chair of the Bedford Town Deal Board and Manager for the Harpur Centre, added: “We’ve set out a clear vision to continue growing Bedford as a thriving town that offers a high-quality experience for both residents and visitors alike.
“The project is a key part of our overall Town Deal, which will help local people to develop and refine their skills so they can benefit from opportunities in areas where employers say there is a need, helping them to progress further and achieve higher.”
Dave Hodgson, Elected Mayor of Bedford Borough (Lib Dems), also commented: “This investment into education and skills at the heart of Bedford’s Town Deal through the Bedford College project is part of our commitment to providing learners and students in the Borough with the best educational opportunities that we can.”
