New expansion plans as popular sixth form college in Preston struggles to meet demand for places

Cardinal Newman College, which has put two sets of expansion plans on hold in the last two years due to cost issues, says the new building would be "of critical importance" in enabling it to accommodate a growing student population.

"Demand for places at Cardinal Newman College continues to grow year on year and as a consequence the college faces issues of overcrowding," says a report to the city's planning committee.

There is a need, say architects, "to provide additional accommodation to meet both current and future needs.

"The issue is compounded by the fact that planning permission has been obtained for two new developments in the last two years which are unlikely to proceed."

The new building, on an area of land inside the college grounds which is currently used as a car park for staff and visitors, would be for use by TV and digital media departments.

It would mean the college could bring them closer to the art department to create an Arts Quarter whilst, at the same time, “aiding the roll-out of new media courses."

The report says the proposals would "mostly help to reduce the strain on existing teaching facilities while providing access to high quality accommodation."

The Newman site in Lark Hill Road, Frenchwood, is hemmed in by housing and has limited room for expansion. Yet it remains a popular college with the city's 16-18-year-old students.

The new building would be three floors with facilities for TV, photography, graphics and other media.

A plan to build a two-storey extension on the side of the St James Building, which would have provided five new classrooms, was granted planning permission in February 2021.

In September a second scheme to extend the third floor of the St Cecilia Building to provide three more classrooms was also passed. But neither looks set to go ahead at the moment.

According to the college's architects EllisWilliams, the St James project is facing "very high" build costs and has so far failed to attract Government funding because it is seen as being "not good value for money."

The St Cecilia extension is also unable to go ahead "due to technical complexities" and that too would face high build costs. "However the scheme may be possible in the longer term if these issues can be overcome."

The report goes on: "It is of note that even if both these developments had been completed, the college would still have had a deficit in accommodation and would be unable to satisfy forecast need up to 2025/26.

"Consequently this development (three-storey media building) is of critical importance to the college in enabling them to meet future demand for places.

"However it is also likely that even with the current scheme there will be a need for further development in the future if both the St James side extension and the St Cecilia extension do not come forward."