£10m land-based college redevelopment set for completion this September – with pics of progress

THE £10m redevelopment of a leading land-based college is set for completion this autumn.

Backed with more than £5.9m from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, Coleg Cambria is transforming its land-based campus at Llysfasi, near Ruthin.

Following the opening of its £1.2m rural education centre three years ago, a new state-of-the-art, 1095 square metre carbon-neutral education complex is currently being built by Wrexham-based Read Construction.

Modern facilities will include classroom and meeting spaces, a coffee shop, HE centre, wellbeing hub and more.

Head of Llysfasi Elin Roberts said: “Everything is on track for the buildings to be finished in September, ready for the next academic year.

“The investment Coleg Cambria has made at Llysfasi demonstrates its commitment to both academia and our local community, as well as supporting the agriculture sector in North Wales and beyond.”

She added: “We are so excited to see these plans come alive, it’s an exciting time for the college and the farming industry, and we will be at the forefront of that.”

As well as the new build the overall revamp at Llysfasi includes landscaping and forest walks, and there will be bilingual information events and advice sessions to mentor local farmers looking to diversify and develop their own commercial processes.

Up to 30 workers are on-site, with that number set to increase in the coming weeks when the roof installation begins.

Site Manager Paul Izzard is pleased with progress and privileged to be leading the project.

“Despite recent challenges with the storms and bad weather we are on course to complete the building this September,” he said.

“Our staff and sub-contractors have worked hard over the winter to ensure that happens, and we will be bringing more trades in this Spring to continue that momentum.

“In partnership with the college we are delighted to be a part of what will be such an important education facility for students and the farming community here in the Vale of Clwyd.”