PLANS to carry out a £20m redevelopment of Coleg Cambria’s Wrexham campus have been put forward.

The further and higher education college announced its intention to transform its Yale campus in June which it said would create hundreds of temporary construction jobs.

Now a planning application has been submitted to Wrexham Council which includes the demolition of the existing catering, performing arts, sports and examination buildings.

According to the proposals they would be replaced with a new three-storey complex containing the latest digital technology, along with a 200-seat conference hall, meeting and staff rooms, a new study space, sports facilities and IT suites.

Speaking previously, chief executive David Jones said it would further enhance the social and learning experience for students while providing staff with an inspiring workplace.

A document entered on behalf of the college by TACP Architects states: “The proposed development will offer enhanced teaching and training facilities, larger examination, sports and dining facilities.

“In the short term, the proposals will provide improved facilities for Coleg Cambria. This will enable a standard of education to be achieved, increasing student access to education and ultimately employment.

“In the long term, the proposals to improve teaching facilities will provide economic benefit to the local area via the increase in employment opportunities.

“The college works in partnership with over 1,000 employers across the region to deliver the skills required for employment.

“The proposals will also provide employment for those contracted to carry out the construction works.”

In the last 18 months, the college has revealed a number of modernisation plans, including the £10m engineering technology complex and campus redevelopment on Bersham Road in Wrexham, and a £3.5m business school in Northop.

It has generated more than £10 million to pay for the latest proposals and is looking to secure additional match funding from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme.

The application claims that the current buildings in use are ‘inadequate’ for teaching requirements.

It states: “The proposals will replace the inefficient accommodation, providing much needed space for examinations that through flexible design can also be used throughout the academic year.

“The project strategy groups the proposed uses across the three storeys of the building.

“First and second floor will focus on curriculum-based activities, including classroom and study areas.

“The ground floor will accommodate the curriculum facilities that are community facing, including the National Library of Wales Digital Archive, the sports hall, the theatre studies performance space, training kitchens with associated restaurant and cafe and the main hall and lecture theatres which offer flexible space for use throughout the year.”

The college has previously said it is hoping to start work on the development in 2019 with the new building open in time for the beginning of the 2020/21 academic year.