New Campus Marks Over £100m Investment In Wythenshawe Education - 25/09/2009 |
 Local MP Paul Goggins has confirmed that plans for a new College campus in Benchill will take investment in new secondary and further education facilities for Wythenshawe to over £100m.
Mr Goggins had been working closely with representatives from The Manchester College to campaign for the proposed campus to be included in the next stage of the FE Capital Programme. This follows the national problems with the over-allocation of funds by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) last year.
The Manchester College is planning a £27.5m development on Brownley Road which will help improve training and employment opportunities for people in Benchill and the wider Wythenshawe area.
The latest plans come in addition to the £83.65m already spent rebuilding the four secondary schools in Wythenshawe. St Paul’s Catholic High School and Newall Green High School have been rebuilt under the Building Schools for the Future programme whilst the new school year has seen the opening of the new Manchester Enterprise and Manchester Health Academies both of which will have brand new buildings ready for use in 2010.
Paul Goggins said: “I am delighted that The Manchester College’s plan for a new campus in Benchill has been included in the next round of the FE Capital Programme. With every high school in the area rebuilt, Wythenshawe will have world class learning environments for all the area’s 11 to 19 year olds.
“I have had a number of meetings with Government Ministers over recent months to impress on them the importance of this new campus for people in Wythenshawe. The state of the art buildings will help to transform the lives of many local people. I am pleased that the LSC have listened to the arguments.
“I am grateful to all those, including Willow Park Housing Trust, who have played a part and hope that construction work will begin in the near future.”
Cllr Eddie McCulley, local ward councillor for Baguley, said: “Both the new buildings for Newall Green and St Paul’s high schools offer state of the art facilities and have already started to have a positive effect on the pupils’ learning experiences.”
Cllr Sue Murphy, local ward councillor for Brooklands, said: “The opening of the brand new Manchester Health Academy building next year will provide a wonderful opportunity for local children within an innovative learning environment.”
Cllr Hugh Barrett, local ward councillor for Sharston, said: “It is great news that Wythenshawe will see a new college campus offering fantastic opportunities for people living across South Manchester. The announcement is the result of hard work not only by The Manchester College, but also Willow Park, Government Ministers and the local Labour councillors.”
Cllr Eddie Newman, local ward councillor for Woodhouse Park, said:
“I am pleased that work has recently started on a new building for the Manchester Enterprise Academy. The construction work involved will also add a massive boost to the local economy creating new jobs and opportunities during the global economic downturn.”
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