Willmott Dixon to Lead £19.3m Redevelopment of Coleg Gwent’s Crosskeys Campus into Net Zero Carbon Facility
Willmott Dixon has been awarded the contract for the initial £19.3 million phase of Coleg Gwent’s Crosskeys Campus redevelopment in Newport. The project aims to transform the campus into a modern, net zero carbon learning environment for one of Wales’ largest further education providers.
Commissioned through the SEWSCAP framework, this first phase involves constructing a new three-storey teaching building spanning 2,552 square metres. The development will also include a new Energy Centre, advanced catering facilities, dedicated business and IT learning spaces, and specialised areas for exams, independent study, and staff use.
Supported by funding from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, the redevelopment forms part of a multi-phase masterplan to revitalise the Crosskeys Campus. Originally opened in the 1960s as a mining industry training centre, the campus is being upgraded to replace outdated buildings with sustainable facilities that comply with Welsh Government standards.
The new teaching building is designed to operate at net zero carbon and aims to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification. Following this phase, Phase 2 is scheduled to commence in early 2028, subject to funding approval. This next stage will deliver a new Block Z, which will accommodate Hair and Beauty, Health and Social Care courses, and the ILS Café, alongside further campus rationalisation works. The handover of Block Y is planned for 2027, after which the existing B Block will be demolished.
Ian Jones, director at Willmott Dixon, emphasised the broader impact of the project: “This project is about much more than construction – it’s about creating opportunities and a sustainable future for the Crosskeys community. Working in close partnership with the team at Coleg Gwent, we’re helping to bring forward a campus that will serve both today’s learners and future generations.” He added, “Crosskeys builds on our track record of delivering sustainable education facilities across Wales, including Bridgend College’s new net zero in operation town centre campus and a Passivhaus primary school and community hub for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, both showing how modern learning environments can lead the way on carbon reduction.”
Nicola Gamlin, principal of Coleg Gwent, highlighted the significance of the redevelopment: “This redevelopment is about much more than just buildings – it’s about creating opportunities for current and future learners across our communities. We are proud of the role that the Crosskeys Campus has played over generations, and these new facilities will ensure it continues to inspire and support students for many years to come. By investing in modern, sustainable spaces, we are helping learners to gain the skills, confidence and experiences they need to succeed in their future careers.”
Willmott Dixon is collaborating with architect Stride Treglown on the project, continuing a partnership that includes the Passivhaus primary school and community hub in Glyn-coch, South Wales, also procured through the SEWSCAP framework. The wider project team features AtkinsRealis as project manager, structural engineer and M&E consultant, and Rider Levett Bucknall as quantity surveyor.
This contract further expands Willmott Dixon’s portfolio in further and higher education, which includes Bridgend College’s town centre campus and two significant projects for Queen Mary University of London: the £48.8 million School of Business and Management and the retrofit of its Information Teaching Laboratory.
Coleg Gwent operates five campuses across Wales, including Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, City of Newport, Crosskeys, Torfaen Learning Zone, and Usk. It offers a wide range of courses such as vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, A-levels, and higher education programmes. The Crosskeys Campus specifically provides courses in performing arts, catering, beauty, and manufacturing.
