Willmott Dixon to Construct £92 Million Educational Campus at Wembley Park

Willmott Dixon has secured a contract to construct a new educational campus for the College of North West London, part of the United Colleges Group, at Wembley Park. This ambitious £92 million project will create a modern educational facility in one of London’s most iconic locations.

Procured through the Southern Construction Framework, the development will feature a cutting-edge teaching and learning environment on Olympic Way, enhancing the area’s educational landscape. The initiative aligns with the United Colleges Group’s Estate Strategy and Brent Council’s vision to establish an educational quarter in Wembley, contributing to the long-term regeneration of the region.

The project will transform a previously unused building into a vibrant educational hub, located just steps away from the national stadium. The new eight-storey structure will encompass 14,200 square metres of internal space, designed with three stacked horizontal volumes. The lower floors will house specialist vocational workshops, while a central student hub will open onto a landscaped deck with views of Wembley Way. Above these areas, teaching spaces will be situated, and a central atrium will connect all floors, ensuring ample natural light throughout.

The campus will offer a diverse array of specialist facilities, including workshops for bricklaying and joinery, hairdressing salons, and science laboratories, alongside general teaching spaces, a dedicated Learning Support department, and spacious communal areas. The design prioritises inclusivity, incorporating expanded provisions for Learners with Learning Disabilities or Difficulties (LLDD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) from the outset.

This new campus is set to play a pivotal role in nurturing the talent necessary for the UK’s economic growth and achieving net zero targets. By enhancing offerings in construction, engineering, and green skills, the college aims to better prepare the next generation of workers with the practical skills that employers are seeking in Brent, across London, and beyond. The project is also targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating, underscoring Willmott Dixon’s commitment to sustainable construction practices. Completion is scheduled for Spring 2029.

The contract further expands Willmott Dixon’s portfolio in the education sector, which includes recent projects such as the £48.8 million School of Business and Management for Queen Mary University of London, the retrofit of the Information Teaching Laboratory at the university’s Mile End campus, a new student village for the University of Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent, and a new town centre campus for Bridgend College in South Wales.

Simon Ramage, Managing Director, London & East at Willmott Dixon, expressed his enthusiasm: “Winning the contract to deliver this landmark project for the College of North West London is a real privilege. This is about more than a building – it’s a place of opportunity for generations of students to come, equipping them with the skills that matter. We look forward to working closely with the college to deliver a facility that is truly worthy of the ambitions of everyone who will learn there.”

Stephen Davis, CEO & Group Principal of United Colleges Group, remarked: “Today is a significant milestone for the college and for Wembley. This new campus on Olympic Way will place students at the heart of one of London’s most iconic locations, providing modern facilities to support future skills in areas including construction, digital and green technologies, as well as a hospitality academy, in line with local and national priorities. It also ensures that our 130-year legacy in Brent continues for generations to come, transforming a disused building into a place of opportunity and ambition for London and Londoners.”