Ground Breaking Celebration Marks Start Of New Build

John Mansfield and Noah Gardener at work outside the theatre

(l-r) Crewe and Nantwich Mayor Brian Silvester and Conservative MP Edward Timpson launch the start of the College's new build project

Work on South Cheshire College's multi-million pound new build is officially underway after a ground-breaking ceremony today (Mon).

Crewe and Nantwich Mayor Brian Silvester and Conservative MP Edward Timpson used commemorative silver spades to signal the start of the new £75 million project at the College's Dane Bank Avenue campus.

They were joined by representatives from BAM Construction - the main building contractors for the project, Chair of the College's Corporation Board Ken Lea, other governors and directors from the college, local councillors and college staff and student representatives.

Work is set to start on the building phase of the project now that the Somerville building has been demolished.

The new campus will revolutionise further education in Crewe and Nantwich and provide a first class educational institution at the heart of the community.

Building work will begin at the back of the College site which has been earmarked for the new state-of-the art building.

The area is completely fenced off from the rest of the campus and teaching and learning is continuing as normal in the main tower block building.

Guests attending the ground-breaking celebration donned hard hats and boots, provided by BAM Construction, before entering the construction site and were treated to refreshments after the ceremony.

Nigel Peet, Director of Operations at South Cheshire College, said: "This ground-breaking ceremony was a way of celebrating the official start of building work.

"BAM have worked extremely hard over the last few months to demolish the Somerville building and prepare the area ready for the new construction.

"This is a very exciting time for the College as we embark on the new build project. After years of planning the project is now about to start taking shape."

Trevor Hough, Construction Director at BAM, said: "We are delighted to be working on this project which will improve facilities for students and the wider community in Crewe and Nantwich."