A former bank in Stafford is set to be transformed into a new adult learning centre, following its purchase by Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG).
The three-storey NatWest building in Greengate Street, which has been closed since June last year, has been acquired with support from the Department for Education.
Subject to planning consent, it will be refurbished and reopened as a modern, multi-purpose education facility for adult learners this September.
NSCG said the development will create a vibrant new presence on Stafford’s High Street, bringing a vacant building back into use while expanding the group’s adult education offer.
The new centre will include seminar rooms, an IT suite, tutorial spaces and offices for the adult education team. Once open, adult learning provision currently delivered at the Earl Street campus, the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology and community venues will move to the Greengate Street site.
The move is designed to ease pressure on existing college sites and create additional capacity for 16–18 learners, following a rise in applications over the past five years. NSCG said demand from school leavers continues to grow, with further increases expected for September.
Craig Hodgson, Principal and Chief Executive of NSCG, said: “We are delighted to have secured this iconic building with the support of our local MP, Leigh Ingham and the Department for Education. The acquisition is a key part of our long-term strategy to manage the incredible growth we’ve seen over recent years.
“Not only are we providing a professional, adult-only learning hub that is better suited to mature learners, we are also unlocking capacity on our main campus to accommodate the next generation. We’ve seen a significant rise in enrolments over the last five years and that demand shows no signs of slowing. This new facility allows us to stay ahead of that curve, ensuring every learner in Stafford, whether 16 or 60, has access to an outstanding learning environment.”
Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall and the villages, welcomed the plans and said the project would bring wide benefits to the town.
She said: “This project will bring real benefits to our local community, support local businesses and strengthen Stafford town centre, while creating new opportunities for people to learn, train and build their future here.”
Courses at the Greengate Street site will be shaped around local economic need and will include maths and English, English for Speakers of Other Languages, digital skills, Access to Higher Education and professional retraining options.
Planning permission for the conversion is currently being sought, and members of the public are invited to view and comment on the proposals via the Stafford Borough Council planning portal.
