Interserve has begun work on the new £77 million Sandwell College campus in West Bromwich following confirmation of funding by the Learning and Skills Council at the end of August.

With preparations on site now under way, it is expected that construction will be complete by the autumn of 2011.

Sandwell College is one of the largest further education providers in the West Midlands, with a total of around 7,000 students and over 600 staff, in both cases a mixture of full and part-time. It currently operates on three main campuses in Oldbury, Smethwick and West Bromwich. Many of the buildings are approaching the end of their intended design life and overall the existing estate no longer provides accommodation that meets the college's educational needs.

The college's vision is to transform the image of further education in the area by creating a single, new campus in West Bromwich. One of the goals is to provide exciting and flexible learning environments that will attract and encourage people to participate in lifelong learning. The new building will provide a diverse range of highly specialist vocational facilities including performance and rehearsal venues, a fitness suite, sports hall and hair and beauty salons. These are supported by state-of-the-art general teaching and ICT classrooms together with flexible study centres, staff areas and student social and support facilities.


The new, 25,300 sq m structure will have a stepped form that climbs from the western end of the building to become seven stories high at the eastern end. There will be two accommodation 'fingers' linked by a large atrium space – a key feature that rises to the full height of the building and mirrors the curving edge of the West Bromwich Ringway. Externally a high quality landscaped piazza will link the entrance of the new college to the main pedestrian routes from the town centre and Metro.

Meanwhile Interserve has won a £40 million contract to create an industrial development in Jebel Ali through its Dubai associate company Khansaheb Civil Engineering. The project involves the construction of an extensive factory complex for the Ducab HV joint venture comprising DUCAB (Dubai Cable Company), DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) and ADWEA (Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority).

Work will commence in November and will continue for approximately 12 months. The complex is focused on the manufacture of electric cables for use both in the local market and for export. The facilities will consist of factory buildings, offices, an extra-high-voltage test laboratory, utility buildings, associated infrastructure and two cable-manufacturing towers. These will be approximately 45m high and 150m high respectively and the taller will also have a 6m-deep basement.

(CD/KMcA)