Plans to demolish a pair of ageing buildings at the Isle of Wight College – and replace them with brand-new state-of-the-art facilities – have been released. It was back in 2021 that the college was awarded money as part of a £1.5billion Government-funded purse. Planning documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council say the new 4,660m² building, to be built on the cleared space, would accommodate a range of subjects including travel and tourism, hospitality, performing arts, public services, electrical, teaching and sport and fitness. Accessibility improvements will be made and the new facilities will help facilitate the college’s special educational provision. The existing courtyard – positioned behind the 1950s built block – will be moved further back, but will remain behind the main building away from Medina Way. A restaurant and new dining area will also be situated within the new building. The new building will be predominantly brick, finished with a neutral-coloured cladding on the 2nd storey. What currently lies on-site houses the student hub, hair salon and main entrance. If approved, these plans will see significant investment into the Newport-based site since the introduction of a Centre of Excellence for Composites and other new facilities including for STEM and Pathways in the last 20 years. The demolition could be done in 2 parts, with a soft internal strip of the buildings done first to leave just the structure standing. Monitoring stations could be set up to keep track of noise, dust and vibration levels during working hours. Works were due to get underway in January with hopes it would be finished by May. But the plans are still with the Isle of Wight Council awaiting their decision. Anyone wishing to view the plans can do so by visiting the Isle of Wight Council’s planning portal and quoting reference 24/00371/FUL. Comments can be submitted until 20th May 2024. 
PLANS SUBMITTED TO DEMOLISH AND REPLACE BUILDINGS AT ISLE OF WIGHT COLLEGE
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To be honest the buildings they want to replace were old and knackered when I studied there in the very early 90’s.
No surprise the IWCC are dragging their heels…
Spot on. I was there early 80’s & they were looking dated even then.
And what’s taking so long for the Council to approve it? Brown envelope not thick enough?
Yup – they are more interested in money than education!
Same way as the Gov’t ‘awarded’ money for the NHS back in 2019…it’s taken 5 years to come through because they held on to the idea until it could be trumpeted before an election as ‘look what the Tories have done for you!’ Nothing to do with the council…they ask yearly ‘where’s the promised money’ and get the brush-off answers.
The new building will be predominantly brick
well, thanks for that, saves me worrying that it was going to be cardboard
Cardboard would not surprise me
Thank you! You’ve just given me my first laugh in a very long day. Almost choked on my dinner, in fact.
So you thumbs up islander for his amusing comment but thumbs down me for laughing at it. How does that work??
Yes they are looking dated BUT do they need replacing or just refurbishing. If the quality of the possible rebuild is anything like some recent public buildings on the Island they would do better to stick with the old substantial buildings.