South Staffordshire College – Tamworth New Build

South Staffordshire College - Tamworth New Build

Introduction & Overview

South Staffordshire College was formed as part of a merger between Cannock Chase Technical College, Rodbaston College and Tamworth and Lichfield College in 2009.The College’s estate comprises three freehold sites in Cannock, Tamworth and Rodbaston, shared use of a site in Lichfield and a smaller site leased from the County Council in Tamworth known asTORC.TheTamworth and TORC site total 15,327m2 of space comprising a number of buildings, sports grounds and car parking.

Tamworth Borough Council are developing plans to regenerate the town centre ofTamworth with the potential support of the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF).The FHSF is a funding initiative from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to provide financial support to town centres adapting them to the needs of the future.

In 2019, PMc were commissioned by the College to develop a long term Estates Strategy. We determined that the most deliverable and affordable solution at that time was a phased refurbishment of the existing main campus at Tamworth. The buildings on this site date from the 1950s to the early 2000s and are in various states of condition. The campus also has substantially more space than the College needs. We identified the potential for the College to relocate to a smaller new build site in the town centre – but at the time of completing the Estates Strategy we identified that the potential costs of delivering that option meant that it would only be feasible if substantial funds could be made available from a third party.

Following detailed engagement between Tamworth Borough Council and South Staffordshire College, the College intend to sell the existing Tamworth site and invest the capital proceeds alongside Future High Street Funding and other funding streams to construct a new College building in Tamworth town centre . The construction of a new college building on the College Lane site is considered to be a transformative project which now sits at the heart of the Council’s vision for the future of the town centre.

PMc were approached by South Staffordshire College in 2019 to develop an estate strategy for their four College’s campuses Lichfield, Rodbaston, Cannock & Tamworth. This consisted of completing detailed reviews of the estates and developing a medium to long term master plan for the College Estate. Our estate assessment and space planning work established that the College had a substantial excess of space within their Tamworth campus. At the point of completing the strategy we developed a phasing plan for the consolidation and rationalisation of the estate on that campus, on the basis that a new-build option could only be delivered with substantial capital support from the Council or another third party.

Tamworth Borough Council subsequently developed plans to regenerate the town centre of Tamworth with the potential support of the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) which is a funding initiative from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to provide financial support to town centres adapting them to the needs of the future. PMc worked with the College, the Council and their consultant team to produce the successful FHSF funding bid which has secured £30m+ for investment in the Town Centre. As part of this bid we ran a Design Approach Competition in partnership with the Local Authority and chose Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt architects as the lead designer.

PMc have played a major part in obtaining a further £14m of FECTF grant funding towards the £30m project for the college along with £6m in site sales receipts from Homes England via the forward sale of the current land. Peter presented the scheme to the Planning Authority in October 2022 and led the College, with its lawyers, through the complex process of agreeing site sale and lease contracts, the JCT D&B contract, sale agreement to Homes England, long lease from the Council for the new site and Section 106 and road diversion
agreements.

The project commenced onsite in spring 2023. The PMc team continues to support the College through to project completion in Winter 2024 acting as strategic client advisors and the specification of FFE requirements and stakeholder liaison through the RIBA Stage 4 design process.

Key Facts

Heading #1
Start on Site	May 2023
Target Completion Date	December 2024
New Build Area (m²)	6,950m²
Total Project Budget	£30m
Funders	Department of Education, Future Highstreet Fund, South Staffordshire College
Architects	Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt
Client Advisor	PMc
Bid Writer	PMc
Cost Consultants	McBains
Project Manager	McBains
Main Contractor	Kier Construction

Project Team

HSDC Alton – Digital Gaming Hub And Reception

HSDC Alton - Digital Gaming Hub and Refurbishment

Introduction

Havant and South Downs College (HSDC) have an important role in supporting the acquisition of skills, promotion of learning and supporting the cultural and social development of the town of Havant and its surrounding areas.

PMc were approached by HSDC in 2017 to produce an Estates Strategy for the merger between Havant College and South Downs College. Following the approval of the Estates Strategy and subsequent merger, PMc were retained as client advisors to project manage the outcomes of the piece of work.

In 2018, PMc updated the Estates Strategy to facilitate the merger with Alton College which was approved in February 2019.

Throughout this period PMc have been retained by the College as Client Advisors and Project Managers on the following projects:

£200K refurbishment of the South Downs Reception;
£150K refurbishment of the Havant Reception;
Worked with the College on potential land sale on the South Downs Campus;
Submitted bids to the Solent LEP on behalf of the College;
Assisted with the proposed sports-led development on the Havant campus; and,

Secured £500K T-Levels funding from the Department for Education.

Overview

HSDC are now currently in the process of implementing its agreed Estates Strategy. Phase 1 saw the refurbishment of reception areas at both the South Downs and the Havant site, Phase 2 saw over £1M invested in the refurbishment of the Havant site – with further works carried out during summer 2019.

The next phase – which is due to commence in summer 2020 – is to begin the transformation of the South Downs campus main building to create a central hub to the college, enhance the students experience and meet modern learning needs. The transformation of this space will also include the creation of a new home for T-Level courses in construction and digital industries.

Testimonial

“I appointed Peter and PMc to work with us to lead the estates work-stream and develop our property strategy because of his track record of leading major developments at Farnham and elsewhere, the respect with which he is held by our regulator (the SFA), and the confidence he inspires in potential funders including the Solent LEP and other partners. The PMc team have demonstrated empathy with our vision and have already helped shape the merger advisory board’s early thinking. We look forward to working with Peter and his team to develop an accommodation strategy for the new college that is ambitious, deliverable and firmly rooted in the educational mission of the new institution.”

Mike Gaston, Principal and Chief Executive of South Downs College

Stevens Building Digital Hub 2020 - 2021

The project objectives were:

To provide industry standard learning accommodation for digital and gaming curricula;
To improve the condition and aesthetic of the Stevens Building creating a dynamic studio space to study in;

Reception Refurbishment 2020 - 2021

The project objectives were:

To relocate the Student Services from the Stevens Building to a new open plan location at the front of the campus;
To create a more spacious and welcoming reception area with clear areas for Student Services, Careers and Enrolment, and a Health and Wellbeing Hub;
To address the air flow issues in the existing reception area.

Key Facts

Heading #1
Start on Site	January 2021
Completion Date	March 2021
Refurbishment area m²	Reception 400m² Stevens Building 880m²
Funder	EM3 LEP
Total Project Cost	£1.5m
Architects	Rock Townsend
Main Contractor	Overbury
M&E Consultants	Brontide Ltd.
Cost Consultant	PMc
Project Manager, Employer’s Agent & Bid Writer	PMc

Project Team

Stevens Building Digital Hub 2020 – 2021

Rock Townsend - Alton College

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Screenshot 2020-12-07 at 09.43.52

Screenshot 2020-12-07 at 09.43.39

Reception Refurbishment 2020 - 2021

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HSDC Alton Reception ISO

HSDC Havant Refurbishment

Introduction & Overview

Havant and South Downs College (HSDC) have an important role in supporting the acquisition of skills, promotion of learning and supporting the cultural and social development of the town of Havant and its surrounding areas.

PMc were approached by HSDC in 2017 to produce an Estates Strategy for the merger between Havant College and South Downs College. Following the approval of the Estates Strategy and subsequent merger, PMc were retained as client advisors to project manage the outcomes of the piece of work.

In 2018, PMc updated the Estates Strategy to facilitate the merger with Alton College which was approved in February 2019.

Throughout this period PMc have been retained by the College as Client Advisors and Project Managers on the following projects:

£200K refurbishment of the South Downs Reception;
£150K refurbishment of the Havant Reception;
Worked with the College on potential land sale on the South Downs Campus;
Submitted bids to the Solent LEP on behalf of the College;
Assisted with the proposed sports-led development on the Havant campus; and,

Secured £500K T-Levels funding from the Department for Education.

HSDC are now currently in the process of implementing its agreed Estates Strategy. Phase 1 saw the refurbishment of reception areas at both the South Downs and the Havant site, Phase 2 saw over £1M invested in the refurbishment of the Havant site – with further works carried out during summer 2019.

The next phase – which is due to commence in summer 2020 – is to begin the transformation of the South Downs campus main building to create a central hub to the college, enhance the students experience and meet modern learning needs. The transformation of this space will also include the creation of a new home for T-Level courses in construction and digital industries.

Testimonial

“I appointed Peter and PMc to work with us to lead the estates work-stream and develop our property strategy because of his track record of leading major developments at Farnham and elsewhere, the respect with which he is held by our regulator (the SFA), and the confidence he inspires in potential funders including the Solent LEP and other partners. The PMc team have demonstrated empathy with our vision and have already helped shape the merger advisory board’s early thinking. We look forward to working with Peter and his team to develop an accommodation strategy for the new college that is ambitious, deliverable and firmly rooted in the educational mission of the new institution.”

Mike Gaston, Principal and Chief Executive of South Downs College

Campus Refurbishment 2018

The project objectives were:

refurbishment of 31no. classrooms throughout A and B block – including the classrooms in the MC teaching area;
creation of a new staff work space in the 400-building including a social space on the ground floor;
refurbishment works in the student lounge to create a new coffee house social/ work space for the student including the relocation of the Starbuck counter; and,
creation of a new Mac suite in the careers area.

Key Facts

Heading #1
Start on Site	June 2018
Completion Date	August 2018
Refurbishment area (m²)	2,100 m²
Total Project Cost	£1m
Funders	HSDC
Architects	Gilbert Ash
Cost Cosultants	PMc
Main Contractor	Gilbert Ash
Project Manager & Employer’s Agent,	PMc

Project Team

Reception Remodelling Works 2018

The project objectives were:

To transform existing tired reception into an open plan hub for student services and careers to be at the front of the campus;
To create a number of meeting rooms in close proximity to reception; and,
Create a more welcoming environment for students and the local committee to enjoy when entering the campus.

Key Facts

Heading #1
Start on Site	March 2018
Completion Date	April 2018
Refurbishment area (m²)	450 m²
Total Project Cost	£250k
Funders	HSDC
Architects	Architecture PLB
Main Contractor	Fasset
Project Manager, Employer’s Agent, & Cost Consultant	PMc

Project Team

Campus Refurbishment – 2018

Finished Renovations on Student Study Space in Reception

Finished Renovations on Front Reception Desk

IT Suit Paintwork Underway b

Isle of Wight College – T Levels

Isle of Wight College - T Levels

Introduction

The Isle of Wight College is an FE college of 28,296m2, located centrally on the island in the principal town of Newport. The College operates from two campuses known as the main campus and the CECAMM (Centre of Excellence for Composites, Advanced Manufacturing and Marine) campus. There has been significant investment in new buildings over the last 12 years, including most recently the creation of CECAMM, P Block, S Block and the Pathways buildings completed in 2017. Since 2022 PMc has been supporting the college in the submission of bids to the Department for Education (DfE) to support the delivery of T Levels across a number of sector areas. We have also supported the feasibility, design, Project and Cost Management, and client fit-out for these Projects.

Key Facts

Heading #1
T Level	Wave 3 – Childcare	Wave 3 – Digital	Wave 3 – Business & Admin	Wave 3 – Healthcare	Wave 3 – Engineering	Wave 4 – Construction – Plumbing	Wave 5 – Hair & Beauty	Wave 5 – Design & Creative
Start on site	May 2022	May 2022	May 2022	May 2022	May 2022	October 2023	September 2023	April 2024
Completion date	August 2022	August 2022	August 2022	August 2022	August 2022	January 2024	January 2024	August 2024
New Build/Refurbishment Area (m²)	455m²	340m²	365m²	385m²	272m²	720m²	350m²	230m²
Total Project Budget	£520,000	£570,000	£390,000	£420,000	£320,000	£1.25M	£650,000	£500,000
Funder	DfE – T Levels	DfE – T Levels	DfE – T Levels	DfE – T Levels	DfE – T Levels	DfE – T Levels	DfE – T Levels	DfE – T Levels
Architects	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc	Saunders Architects, Io Consulting, Scott White and Hookins	PMc	PMc
Services Engineers/Technical Advisors	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Pentrevion	Parrish Consultancy	N/A
Cost Consultants	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc	Ridge & Partners	PMc	PMc
Project Manager, Employer’s Agent, Bid Writers	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc	PMc
Main Contractor	Scape Construct Ltd	Scape Construct Ltd	Scape Construct Ltd	Scape Construct Ltd	Scape Construct Ltd	TBC	Scape Construct Ltd	TBC

Testimonials

The new Business Centre, opening June 2022, was created out of a dormant, and poorly used, space in one of our blocks (L). The space was open plan and had not been used effectively in any number of configurations.

With Peter Marsh Consulting, and their Project Managers, a plan was established to isolate this space into two rooms that would be presented in a style similar to the highest quality conference facilities expected in some of our major city Hotels. The design brief was essentially about creating space that challenged the expectations of accommodation traditionally found in a school/college environment, and would be different in every form.

The use of full glass walls on three sides of this new room, with an additional breakout small meeting room (with excellent views of the College campus and beyond), has most certainly achieved that objective. Effective selection of furniture allows for the formatting of the main room to be anything from traditional conference to small group work. High quality audio-visual hardware ensures that delegates can engage fully in current teleconferencing and to the highest of standard.

The projects management was excellent with a great stress on client engagement and participation throughout. The project managers were very adaptive to the needs and interests of the College with the result that the outcome has exceeded expectations. Given that the objective was to provide an environment within the College that employers would feel represented them, and the standards they may expect when attending significant national and international conferences, the completed facility more than achieves that. Supplementary works to the local environment around it have also helped ensure the uniqueness of the accommodation within the College.

Our summary review is that anyone attending the new Centre will be amazed and surprised that such high quality accommodation is available on the Island, and that it is bespoke to their needs as employers and members of the community.