Willmott Dixon has been awarded a £92 million contract to construct a landmark campus for the College of North West London (CNWL), part of the United Colleges Group. Located at the prestigious Olympic Way in Wembley Park, the project will transform a long-vacant building into a premier educational facility steps away from the national stadium.
The development, secured through the Southern Construction Framework, supports Brent Council’s vision of an educational quarter within Wembley and aligns with the United Colleges Group’s Estate Strategy.
The new 14,200m² campus is designed as an eight-storey building featuring three distinct horizontal volumes. A central atrium will run the full height of the structure, ensuring natural light reaches every floor. The internal layout includes:
- Lower Floors: Specialist vocational workshops for trades such as joinery and bricklaying.
- Central Hub: A student area opening onto a landscaped deck with views over Wembley Way.
- Upper Floors: General teaching spaces and science laboratories.
- Specialist Areas: Hairdressing salons, a Learning Support department, and a hospitality academy.
Inclusive design is a core element of the project, with dedicated and expanded provision for Learners with Learning Disabilities or Difficulties (LLDD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) integrated throughout the facility.
The project is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating. By focusing on construction, engineering, and green skills, the new campus aims to address national net-zero goals and equip students with the practical expertise required by modern employers in London and beyond.
Simon Ramage, Managing Director, London & East at Willmott Dixon, said: “Winning the contract to deliver this landmark project for the College of North West London is a real privilege. This is about more than a building – it’s a place of opportunity for generations of students to come, equipping them with the skills that matter. We look forward to working closely with the college to deliver a facility that is truly worthy of the ambitions of everyone who will learn there.”
Stephen Davis, CEO & Group Principal of United Colleges Group, added: “Today is a significant milestone for the college and for Wembley. This new campus on Olympic Way will place students at the heart of one of London’s most iconic locations, providing modern facilities to support future skills in areas including construction, digital and green technologies, as well as a hospitality academy, in line with local and national priorities. It also ensures that our 130-year legacy in Brent continues for generations to come, transforming a disused building into a place of opportunity and ambition for London and Londoners.”
Construction is scheduled for completion in Spring 2029. This project joins Willmott Dixon’s extensive education portfolio, which includes recent works for Queen Mary University of London, the University of Staffordshire, and Bridgend College.
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