Plans to relocate Tamworth College into town centre revealed
Ambitions to relocate Tamworth College, part of South Staffordshire College, and complete restoration works on historic Tamworth buildings have been revealed in major new proposals to transform Tamworth town centre.
Tamworth Council was awarded £21.65million from the Future High Streets Fund to develop a town centre that meets the needs of 21st century shoppers, residents and businesses.
New proposals detail the possible movement of Tamworth college into the town centre.
The proposal is for new state-of-the-art college building to be built on the site of the 1960s part of the Tamworth Co-operative Society building in St Editha 's Square.
Such a move would bring around 1,500 students, staff and visitors into the town centre, both in the daytime and for evening courses.
The locally-listed part of the building, fronting onto Colehill, would be protected and turned into new affordable office space to build on the success of Tamworth Enterprise Centre.
Tamworth Enterprise Centre has housed multiple businesses, and has been used by Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce.
Claire Boliver, chief executive principal from South Staffordshire College, said: “Our ambition to bring Further Education into the town centre would bring economic and social benefits to the community as well as an exceptional learning environment for the development of the workforce of the future. The central location would make the college 's high-quality courses and apprenticeships even more accessible to people from across the region.
“Our focus is on 'careers not courses ' which means we don 't just teach courses - we help local people get the skills required by local employers. With the new proposed location, our ambition is to help more businesses to fill their skills gaps, and get more local people into their dream careers, whatever their starting point. ”
Other proposals in the plan include the development of new spaces for businesses, an improved entrance between the town centre and Castle Grounds, transforming St Editha's Square into a multi-purpose events space.
The bid to Government was put together in partnership with landlords, businesses and organisations, following months of public engagement, through the Tamworth, what's next? campaign, detailed research and feasibility studies.
The project also includes a significant amount of co-investment from various partners that can transform the town centre in a positive way for the future.
While the funding has been allocated in principle, all the projects will now be subject to contracts, design work, planning permission and further consultation.
Jason Challoner, president of Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, commented: "By bringing Tamworth College into the heart of the town will enable young adults to take advantage of a great modern learning space and breathe a new youthful energy into the town centre.
"Affordable and flexible space for smaller hospitality, leisure and retail businesses will encourage entrepreneurs to establish new commercial enterprises.
"This combined with the restoration of heritage buildings will provide construction opportunities for local contractors, which in turn will create employment opportunities for local Staffordshire people."
Pictured: An artist's impression of what the new Tamworth College site could look like