Groundbreaking steps to creating a new campus (From Warrington Guardian)

Groundbreaking steps to creating a new campus

LEADING figures at Warrington Collegiate performed the official sod cutting ceremony to mark the start of the college's new £27 million campus.

Principal Paul Hafren and Colin Daniels, chairman of governors, cut the first sod to kick-start the building work.

The project is the largest development of its kind in Warrington and includes a £3.5m business school, a theatre, a training restaurant, hairdressing and beauty salons and a major construction skills centre.

The striking curved glass and brick structure will feature environmentally friendly energy systems and replaces the apartment-style building, which has been a part of Warrington's landscape for more than 30 years.

The new campus, located within the current site, will be completed in April 2006.

Mr Hafren said: "The rebuilding of Warrington Collegiate is part of an ambitious strategy to ensure that the college is the major provider of vocational education and training in Warrington.

"It will underpin the college's plans to deliver personalised vocational learning, support Warrington businesses and help to strengthen the communities in Warrington.

"It is the culmination of more than four years of planning by the college and governors - a significant element of which was the transfer of the Padgate site to University College Chester in 2002."