Motor industry students could benefit from college expansion in Kirkby
Dozens of students keen to get into the motor industry could benefit from an expansion in Kirkby by Vision West Nottinghamshire College.
The college already has a base at its Station Park campus on Julias Way in the town, which is a dedicated training centre for students pursuing careers in the construction industry.
Now it is hoping to convert a warehouse directly opposite into a centre for motor vehicle training for young people aged 16 and upwards. It would be referred to by the college as its Julias Way site.
If given the go-ahead, it would include a workshop, classrooms, stores, staff rooms and toilets and would be capable of housing 140 students, plus 20 members of staff, per day.
A change-of-use planning application has been submitted to Ashfield District Council by Nigel Bryan, who is the new head of estates at the college, which has its main campus on Derby Road, Mansfield.
The application states that, until recently, the site was used as a distribution and storage warehouse by a tenant.
That tenant was the successful Nottingham-based company, We Are Fulfilment, which provides specialist warehouses for e-commerce businesses to store their products.
Also listed as owners or tenants on the application form are S&S Plastics Ltd and Clothing Management Technology Ltd, which operate from Julias Way.
We Are Fulfilment struck a deal to acquire the unit four years ago, saying it was an attractive location because of its large car park and close proximity to junctions 27 and 28 of the M1. But it closed last year.
Initially, Mr Bryan submitted an application to “determine if prior approval is required for a change of use from commercial to a state-funded education facility”.
Work on the conversion was completed, but the council decided full approval WAS required, hence the latest application.
The plan says there are 154 car-parking spaces on site, plus ten for motorbikes, ten for cycles and two for disability vehicles.
The building would not include a canteen, but students and staff would be able to cross over to use the one at the Station Park campus.
West Notts College provides education and training opportunities for about 12,000 students and apprentices in total, and works in partnership with local businesses and employers.
The motor industry is a vast sector, encompassing the design, development, manufacture, marketing, selling, repair and modification of vehicles.
The council’s planning officers are currently considering the proposal and have set a deadline date of Monday, May 25 fr a decision or recommendation.
THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/