Building expansion work underway at Green Lane campus

Black Country construction company, Interclass has been appointed by Walsall College to oversee the expansion of its Green Lane Campus.

Building work has begun at the construction training-based campus, with a three-floor extension set to be ready in Autumn.

The new extension will provide additional gas and plumbing, carpentry and electrical workshops and classrooms, as well as a new canteen, reception and social spaces for students.

The appointment of Wolverhampton-based Interclass will provide a wealth of benefits for the area through the employment of a local workforce and procurement of a local supply chain. Throughout the build, Interclass will be working closely with the college’s construction students, helping to provide an opportunity to use the scheme as a learning tool during the construction period.

Principal and Chief Executive of Walsall College, Jatinder Sharma CBE DL said: “We hope our learners, employer and community partners enjoy seeing this expansion project unfold over the coming months, particularly with our students being closely involved in some of the building work taking place.

“The arrival of this new-look campus helps to ensure we continue providing high quality education while meeting local industry skills needs.  It also supports our vision for a sustainable environment with low and zero carbon resources in place.

“We look forward to everyone fully utilising the new workshop spaces and facilities once the expansion is complete.”

Designed with sustainability in mind, the new steel-frame extension incorporates lighter weight elements to reduce excavation and materials used on-site, resulting in lower carbon emissions compared to other frame options. Renewable energy will also be generated from photo-voltaic (PV) panels installed on the roof.

Des O’Neill, managing director at Interclass, said: “This is a significant contract award for Interclass, and we are excited to deliver a project which will make a real difference to the learning experience of young people in Walsall. The extension project will directly support the construction workforce of the future and provide an already highly reputed college with much-needed expanded facilities to meet the demand of students and the industry as a whole.

“We are passionate about delivering social value within our local communities and throughout the scheme we have committed to employing local apprentices, offering work experience for T Level placements, and arranging tailored site visits to support the College and allow construction students to use the live site as part of their course.”