A New College Campus in Ipswich - East Anglian Daily Times, 7 January 2005
Dr Peter Funnell Assistant Principal (Learning Development) outlines how a reassessment of its academic strategy is leading Suffolk College to develop a new College campus in Ipswich
In 2004 Suffolk College concluded an extensive reassessment of its academic strategy and resolved to refocus its primary mission on the development and enhancement of further and vocational education and training whilst working with partners to establish University Campus Suffolk (UCS), in part through the planned transfer of higher education contracts.
To support its academic strategy the College produced a revised Property Strategy in September 2004 that highlighted:
• the academic strategy of the College and how this was driving its assessment of its future accommodation needs;
• the College's aspiration to work with a range of stakeholders to support the establishment of UCS and to co-ordinate capital developments to support the creation of an innovative and ambitious Education Quarter in Ipswich;
• the unsuitable condition of current College buildings;
• the range of options explored by the College and the primacy of the case for new buildings in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness.
Since September the College, its property consultants GVA Grimley and architects Fredrick Gibberd Partnership, have worked with the local and national Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the planning authority and other stakeholders and partners to produce an 'in principle' capital proposal to support a strategic accommodation change.
In summary the proposal is to locate new College buildings and resources to the north of the current campus. In total some 20,000 m2 of new buildings are proposed in the first instance based on a detailed analysis of current and predicted student demand, and more efficient use of purpose-designed contemporary accommodation fit for teaching and learning in the 21st century.
The detailed 'in principal' bid document which articulates the case for a new build solution, how this will support the growth of further education in line with LSC and national government priorities, and link with and benefit from the close association between the College and UCS, will be considered by the Suffolk LSC in January and, with their support, by the national LSC in February. Once approved it is anticipated that building works will commence during 2006 and facilities available to students and staff during the 2007/8 academic year. Alongside this an extensive process of employer and wider community consultation will be undertaken to ensure that the courses and services offered by the College benefit all, and that the views of local residents are taken fully into account during the construction phase. The total cost of this exciting capital proposal is estimated at around £50m and will represent excellent value for money.
For further information on Suffolk College visit www.suffolk.ac.uk