One of England’s biggest colleges, The Manchester College, has acquired land in the heart of the city as part of a £100 million campus redevelopment strategy.
Part of LTE Group, the college has acquired a 3.2-acre site on Great Ducie Street, near Manchester Victoria railway station, with plans to consolidate its several of its campuses to this site during the 2021-22 academic year. The college will retain its campuses at City Labs, Openshaw, Harpurhey and Wythenshawe.
The site is currently a car park and the regeneration scheme has the strategic and financial support of both Manchester City Council and the mayor Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
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‘Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’
The Manchester College principal Lisa O’Loughlin said further plans about the college’s new campus will be announced in the coming months.
She added: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a centre of educational excellence for the city, with opportunities for thousands of students to join us.
John Thornhill, chief executive of LTE Group, said this will be a landmark college for the city and Greater Manchester, adding: “[It will provide] students of the future with fresh and innovative ways of learning and preparing them for employment in a digital world”.
Nigel Murphy, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, added: “The Manchester College will make a major contribution to the city’s work and skills strategy which seeks to support relevant training which connects Manchester people with the opportunities available through our growing economy.”