NI construction firm, McLaughlin & Harvey, has been awarded a main construction contract for the new City Learning Quarter in Wolverhampton city centre.

McLaughlin & Harvey will provide transformational facilities for the City of Wolverhampton College, Adult Education Wolverhampton and Central Library which will benefit skills and employment outcomes for residents across the city and further afield.

The City Learning Quarter main facility will be located around the Old Hall Street and St George's Parade area of the city centre, including a site on the corner of Garrick Street and Bilston Street.

Under a pre-construction agreement, the City of Wolverhampton Council and College have been progressing final design work. Site preparation, service diversion and infrastructure works have previously been undertaken.

The proposals were initially supported by investment from the council with further funding coming through a combination of £5 million from the Towns Fund and £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund. Alongside additional grants and contributions from the college and council, the Department for Education also provided £22 million of funding to support the proposals.

McLaughlin & Harvey Senior Project Manager, Shane Greer, said: "After successfully completing our collaboration with the council on the design and preparatory works, McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to be commencing works as the main contractor on Wolverhampton City Learning Quarter in the coming weeks. The project, which is being delivered under the Crown Commercial Service CWAS RM6088 Framework, will benefit the area of Wolverhampton with a state-of-the art learning facility. We will be undertaking initial enabling works such as utility diversions, welfare construction and hoarding installation in advance of demolition and piling commencing in the new year."

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Council Leader Councillor, Stephen Simkins, stated: "The City Learning Quarter is a game-changing scheme for Wolverhampton. A lot of hard work has been put in by council and college representatives, supported by our local MP Stuart Anderson and the West Midlands Combined Authority, to secure vital funding and get us to the point where we can make our vision a reality. The City Learning Quarter will have a visible and tangible impact on the City of Wolverhampton and its residents, making a massive difference to everyday life through direct investment in skills and education. We are working hard with City of Wolverhampton College to ensure we not only deliver a vibrant education hub where we improve the city’s learning, apprenticeship and employment offers, but also that we retain our best talent, rather than losing people to different parts of the region. The new facilities will provide a vital facelift to our city centre and will be an inspirational environment for people to learn in, also offering excellent connectivity to rail, bus, tram and cycle. We will be creating an environment where everyone can flourish and it demonstrates the commitment this city has to investing in its citizens."

Mal Cowgill, Principal and CEO at the City of Wolverhampton College, said: "This marks a significant milestone in making our City Learning Quarter vision a reality. The city centre campus will transform our student experience and make a tangible impact on the City of Wolverhampton, offering first class facilities in key areas of employment to the thousands of people set to walk through its doors."

Stuart Anderson, MP for Wolverhampton South West, commented: "I am absolutely delighted by this announcement. The City Learning Quarter project will be a lasting legacy, changing the lives of the youth in Wolverhampton. I'm immensely proud to have played a part in securing £20 million of Levelling Up funding for this transformational endeavour, which will bring hope, opportunity, and a brighter future to our city."

The City Learning Quarter Project is expected to be completed by September 2025.