WEST College Scotland’s vision for a major new campus at East India Harbour, Greenock has taken a step forward.
The college has submitted an outline business case for the ambitious multi-million pound investment proposal to the Scottish Funding Council.
The building be on vacant land beside the Beacon Arts Centre.
Liz Connolly, principal and chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have submitted this revised outline business case to the Scottish Funding Council and look forward to working together to move this exciting project forward.
“The West College Scotland family cares passionately about the communities we live in, work in and provide the highest quality education for.
“We are committed to providing the best possible learning outcomes for the people of Inverclyde and ensuring future generations have access to the rich opportunities a sustainable, forward-thinking college can provide.”
The college now hopes to secure an initial £4.5 million of funding to develop a full business case from the Scottish Funding Council, before being granted further funding from the Scottish Government to proceed with the build.
Once opened the campus is expected to be carbon net zero in its operations, helping set a new standard for environmentally sustainable education and aiding the Scottish Government’s target for the country to be carbon neutral by 2045.
Amy McDonald, vice-principal of operations, said: “This outline business case for a new Greenock campus sets out an ambitious and vital development for West College Scotland.
“It looks to the delivery of a net zero resource which will truly enhance both further and higher education across Inverclyde and assist the Scottish Government in the delivery of its climate change targets.”
The proposed campus will provide technologically advanced, adaptable rooms, fully enabled for current teaching and learning while capable of changing to facilitate future models of teaching and learning.
Classrooms, studios and workshops will be designed to be bright, airy, constant-temperature environments with excellent daylight, high ceilings and great acoustics to maintain elevated levels of student engagement and motivation.
There will also be the opportunity to create a variety of indoor and outdoor social spaces for students, staff and the community, all with wireless connectivity and many with sweeping elevated views of the Clyde and beyond.
The college’s current Finnart Street campus was opened in 1973 and was originally intended to be used for 30 years before being replaced.
Careful management has kept the building operational for an extra 20 years, but the college say it is becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to maintain within current budgets.
A new campus will allow the Finnart Street tower-block building to close and for the land to be redeveloped.
Just under 2,000 full-time students study with West College Scotland in Greenock.
