Carlisle College secures additional facilities at former city Secondary School
Officers at Cumbria County Council have been working with staff at Carlisle College to secure additional premises at the former NCTC site in Harraby. The Edgehill Road premises will be vacated by the Richard Rose Central Academy when it moves into its new premises at Christmas.
The Academy’s £31million new build on Lismore Place has been procured by Cumbria County Council.
The ground floor of the Harraby site will be taken over by Carlisle College to add to its estate while work continues on its refurbishment and new build. The College expects to use the former Academy for a period of approximately 12 months.
The College secured £9million alternative capital funding from Cumbria County Council (£3million) and North West Regional Development Agency following the collapse of funding from the Learning and Skills Council. The College was also successful in securing additional funding in the form of an Enhanced Renewal Grant from the Skills Funding Agency. This additional £1million will be used to refurbish some of the facilities in the existing Block D which will remain in the new scheme.
The overall £10million redevelopment of the Carlisle College campus will enhance and add to the state of the art learning environment the College provides its students.
The year long deal will allow Cumbria County Council, as part of its ‘Harraby Together We Can’ project, to continue to explore with the local community the best future long term use of the site.
During the College’s occupation, the current facilities, used by the community, will remain accessible to the public. These include the theatre, library, sports hall and playing fields.
Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet will discuss the long term options so far when it meets on 16 December.
Principal of Carlisle College Moira Tattersall said: “This is a great opportunity for us to maintain and enhance our provision while our campus redevelopment takes place. We are delighted to be working with Cumbria County Council on this scheme. The facilities at the former Richard Rose Central Academy will be put to good use by the College, and help ensure that community facilities and the provision of learning is maintained in Harraby. I am sure the people in the vicinity of the school will welcome our presence and we are very much looking forward to meeting our new neighbours.”
A meeting with community groups and service users will be held tonight (Thursday 2 December 2010) and representatives from the College will be on hand to answer questions.
Cumbria County Council will hold a regular Harraby Neighbourhood Forum Meeting on Friday 3 December.
Facilities at the former Harraby School include general teaching classrooms, a theatre and sports hall/gym.
Since the redevelopment of Carlisle College commenced, many staff have been housed in temporary accommodation. This will be reviewed.
Harraby County Councillor Cyril Weber said:
“We are delighted that Carlisle College can make use of the Edgehill Road site. It will secure the medium term future of the community facilities, and keep the provision of learning in Harraby.”
“It will also allow us more time to engage with the local community to ensure the long term future of the site best suits the people who live there.”
The College prospectus is available as a download from www.carlisle.ac.uk or can be sent via post for free, call 01228 822700.
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