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Construction phase for £44m college begins

6 May 2009

A £44m Public Private Partnership project to construct new education facilities for the Belfast Metropolitan College officially got underway today.

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, announced the commencement of the construction phase which will deliver a new 22,000m2 Further Education Campus in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, the Minister said: “This is a significant milestone in the development of the much needed educational accommodation for the people of Belfast.  It will allow the College to continue to deliver first class education and training to the local area and will create the largest Further Education facility in Northern Ireland.  This will undoubtedly help encourage people to follow the route into lifelong learning.”

The building work will take 27 months to complete, with the Titanic Quarter Campus becoming available in August 2011.  

Sir Reg continued:  “Given the constraints of the current financial climate, this investment will be welcomed by the local construction industry and is testimony to the commitment of my Department to provide a Further Education infrastructure equipped to meet the needs of a modern vibrant economy.”

The Belfast Metropolitan College had, in the 2007/08 year, 38,046 professional and technical student enrolments and a further 11,050 non-vocational students.   

Acting Principal and Chief Executive, Dr. Raymond Mullan OBE, said: “We are delighted to be hosting this event and celebrating the launch of the beginning of our new Titanic Campus build project.  This is a timely and necessary development which will provide a state of the art and inspirational learning environment in a city centre location.  This development will enhance our existing leading role in the growth of the local skills base and the Northern Ireland economy.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. In Public Private Partnership arrangements the private sector consortium design, build, finance and operate the building for the concession period, in this case 25 years, after which time the building reverts to the college.
  2. The private sector consortium in this project is headed by Ivywood Colleges  Ltd and includes the Pattons construction company and facilities management company Amey.  Ulster Bank provided the finance and Todd Architects were the design consultants.
  3. The College was advised by a team of FGS McClure Watters (technical), KPMG (financial) and A&L Goodbody (legal).
  4. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.  Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.