PROPOSALS for a new Cardiff & Vale College (CAVC) campus in Barry and at the airport will be announced tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6.

CAVC has had a presence in Barry for more than 50 years and the college last year told the Barry & District News it had a “longstanding aspiration and commitment to developing a new campus in Barry.”

“The College was looking at a number of options as part of preparing a bid for funding from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Investment Programme.

Vale council, managing director Rob Thomas told the Barry & District News at the time that the presence of a successful college in Barry was very important to the council.

A CAVC spokesman, today, said: “The cabinet is to receive a report recommending the sale of two sites – one at Barry Waterfront and one at Cardiff Airport to CAVC for two new campuses.

“CAVC will fund this purchase from the sale of its Colcot Road and ICAT sites and through the Welsh Government’s MIM framework. T

“The Welsh Government will also need to approve the Waterfront sale as it part-owns the land.

“The College aims to open both campuses in September 2022.

“Learning will continue at the existing Vale sites until this date so no learning or students will be disrupted.

The Barry Waterfront Campus will offer a wide range of vocational and FE courses. It will also feature a training restaurant and salon facilities – both of which will be open to the public.

The Airport Campus will replace the existing ICAT campus.

“As well as aero courses, it will feature advanced manufacturing facilities and a dedicated STEM skills centre, plus IT and Cyber Security courses.

Both sites will house up to 800 students.

“These plans are still just proposals at this stage.

“But it is CAVC’s preferred option.”