College of West Anglia aims for new ‘Green’ skills academy in Wisbech

Students may soon be able to learn the skills necessary to work in ‘Green’ industries in a specially built teaching building.

The College of West Anglia has applied for planning permission to build a ‘Green Skills AcademT’ building on its Wisbech site complete with teaching workshops, and studios to support developing skills required for ‘Green’ industries and technologies.

A design, access, and heritage statement drawn up by YMD Boon Architects and Construction Consultants in support of the application submitted to Fenland District Council this week said: “Access to the proposed new Greens Skills Academy is via the campus main entrance to the east on Ramnoth Road and the secure access managed by the main reception.

“The existing site is vacant, previously used by the construction skill workshops to teach excavation for building foundations and below-ground drainage installations.”

It explained the proposed new building will be two-storey, like the existing buildings around it, and will have on the ground floor three teaching workshops, a staff room, toilets, and materials storage bays as well as a plant room and stairs and a lift to the first floor.

On the first floor there will be a multi-use teaching studio, office, staff kitchenette, accessible toilet, and storage.

The statement said: “The new building is carefully placed on the site to simply align it with the existing buildings to the north and facing the campus service road which acts as a street connecting the building to the Technology Centre to the south and the main campus building east of it. The entrance to the Green Skills Academy is directly opposite the main entrance to the adjacent Technology Centre.”

The building will be designed to meet the requirements necessary to make accessible for all.

The statement concluded: “The considered scale and form of the new building respects the existing neighbouring buildings, and building lines and no part of the building is greater than two storeys.

“The proposed new Green Skills Academy building will provide new teaching and training facilities for the College of West Anglia and Wisbech and serve its local community for many years to come.”