Forth Valley College’s new £83million Falkirk Campus is one step closer after the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council approved the full business case recently (Tuesday 29 November 2016).
The next step for the College will be to start the procurement process through publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Journal (OJEU notice) with the build anticipated to commence in September 2017. The new campus is expected to open in 2019.
The new state-of-the-art facility will be located on the College’s former Middlefield site on Grangemouth Road, Falkirk.
It will serve as Forth Valley College’s headquarters and will complete Forth Valley College’s estates development strategy, following on from a new Alloa Campus which opened in 2011 and a new Stirling Campus which opened in 2012.
Over 410 members of staff are expected to be based at the campus which will also welcome around 2000 full-time students per year.
Provision will link with local employment opportunities with a strong focus on science and engineering. There will also be advanced level courses in computing, construction, sport, hairdressing, beauty therapy, healthcare and early years.
The new campus will include modern, flexible and technology-enabled spaces and will boast industry standard workshops, laboratories and classrooms. It will also have a Learning Resource Centre, food outlets, hair and beauty salons, conference space and sports facilities. In addition, the campus will be built with sustainability in mind and is aspiring to achieve a BREEAM rating of very good or excellent.
Award winning architectural firm Reiach and Hall has been appointed to design the new campus. Reiach and Hall also designed the College’s new Alloa and Stirling campuses.
Other key partners include the Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Futures Trust and AECOM.
Forth Valley College Principal, Dr Ken Thomson, said:
“Now that the full business case has been approved, the green light has been given for us to put the plans out to procurement so we can begin the process of choosing who should build what will be a fantastic new campus, a wonderful learning environment and a legacy building that Falkirk and Scotland as a whole will be proud of.
“All going well we should be looking at work starting in September 2017 with a completion date in August 2019. Situated close to the inspirational and innovative Kelpies, the Helix Park and the Falkirk Stadium, the new Campus will also further enhance what has developed into one of Scotland’s most vibrant economic and cultural hubs.
“It really is exciting times for further education in the Forth Valley area and we are delighted to be leading the way and showing that we are living up to our dynamic and inspirational mission statement of Making Learning Work.”
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney said:
"I am delighted that the new Falkirk campus for Forth Valley College has been approved and that students and staff will get the new state-of-the-art facility they need and deserve.
"This government is committed to providing excellent college facilities across the country to enable the delivery of high quality learning and training, with over £550 million invested in the estate since 2007."
John Kemp, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“In just over six years Forth Valley College has been able to build new, state-of-the-art campuses in Alloa, Stirling and now Falkirk. Today’s announcement means that all of the college’s 14,500 students will soon be learning in modern and inspiring buildings. I am pleased SFC has been able to play a key role in making this happen.”
Councillor Craig Martin, Leader of Falkirk Council said:
“We welcome news that the business case for the new campus has been given the go ahead. This is a significant investment into the Falkirk area and will provide a modern, high tech facility for students locally and further afield.”