Cornwall College has revealed more about its plans to demolish a number of buildings on its Pool campus in two phases.
The Cornwall College Camborne campus, in Trevenson Road, Pool, has been given £12 million under the Department for Education’s further education capital funding to remove poor quality and redundant buildings.
This is in addition to around £40 million given for a full rebuild of Cornwall College’s St Austell campus.
There are two phases of work planned in Pool. The first stage of demolition is scheduled to involve the Avalon Corridor, Merlin, Scott and Avalon buildings, the lecture theatre and Harris building.
The second phase would see the Tamar Annexe Sharm and College Print buildings demolished.
Before this can happen, Cornwall College has submitted a ‘prior approval’ application to Cornwall Council.
The development falls under ‘permitted development rights’, meaning it is allowed under national legislation without the need for a planning application.
However, a condition is that an application of ‘prior approval’ is submitted, to allow the planning authority the chance to consider the proposals and their potential impact on areas such as transport and highways.
The application states: “The college plans to remove several existing buildings that are in poor condition. Retained buildings will be upgraded and reconfigured internally to accommodate revised teaching and support functions.
“The removal of several empty and dilapidated buildings, particularly on the southern and eastern side of the campus, will improve the visual amenity of the college when viewed from then surrounding neighbourhood area.
“It will also reduce the security risk posed by empty buildings fringing the edge of the site.”
The college submitted a pre-application for the work in August 2022.
It said the demolition would be carried out in two “discrete phases” – the first beginning in 2023 and completion of the second phase in 2024.
“Following the demolition works, vacant sites will be topsoiled and re-seeded and then retained as open soft landscape, pending any other future uses coming forward,” added the college.
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