Cheadle College opens new £27 million campus

Cheadle College has officially opened its brand new £27 million campus, marking the successful completion of a transformative project that aims to redefine education for young people in Stockport and beyond.

Trafford and Stockport College Group celebrated the milestone with a special event attended by staff, students, governors, key partners, and local stakeholders.

Highlights of the event included a ceremonial handover of the keys by construction company Willmott Dixon, a guided tour of the new facilities, and an exhibition of student photography titled ‘Watch Me Grow’ showcasing the construction journey through their eyes.

James Scott, CEO of The Trafford and Stockport College Group, said:

“Today marks more than the opening of a building, it represents a bold step into the future for Cheadle College. This new space will empower our students with access to high-quality resources and an environment designed for creativity, collaboration and career-focused learning.

“It’s also a celebration of the incredible effort, vision, and partnership that made this happen. I want to thank our students, staff, and project partners for their dedication throughout this journey.”

Lilly Holland, who is studying Health and Social Care, is delighted with the new college. She said,

“In the future I want to be a nurse or a paramedic and with the new facilities available, I am gaining the technical skills that I need for my career.”

Cllr Wendy Meikle, Stockport Council Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education services said,

“The new Cheadle College campus forms part of the ambitious plans we have for our borough – as we continue to deliver the opportunities that make us one of the best towns in England to live, learn, work and play. We want to support our young people by providing them with the best education, skills, and qualifications so they can be the best they can be. This new state of the art campus will do just that and will provide our young people with access to modern facilities that inspire learning, broaden opportunities, and support our borough’s continued growth

“The partnership that Trafford and Stockport College Group offers to this borough is wonderful, the change in the quality of the offer for our post-16 learners since they have been involved in Stockport is remarkable.”

The new facility replaces ageing infrastructure with a modern, energy-efficient building that supports a diverse range of courses and learning styles. Key features include:

• Cutting-edge classrooms and vocational workshops for courses including Early Years, Health and Social Care, and Horticulture
• Specialist environments for Choices learners – tailored provision for SEND and high needs students, including a sensory room, dedicated garden, and outdoor learning space
• A spacious Learning Resource Centre and social zones designed to promote wellbeing and inclusivity
• Specialist environments for the delivery of industry-standard T Levels in Health and Education

The design also incorporates biophilic elements and a neurodiverse-friendly colour strategy, alongside sustainable features such as PV panels, air source heat pumps, and solar-efficient glazing.

Delivered by Willmott Dixon via the Procure Partnerships Framework, the project focused on making a difference to the Cheadle community, engaging with over 1,000 Trafford and Stockport College Group students as well as from local feeder schools. This included the delivery of 261 apprenticeship weeks and 50 weeks of work experience placements.

The project achieved a social return on investment of 52% which included a spend of £9m with businesses within 20 miles of the site. The project created four full-time roles for local residents including prison leavers, care leavers and young people not in education, employment or training and Willmott Dixon are continuing to support these individuals beyond the end of the project.

Willmott Dixon also partnered with local pupil referral unit The Pendlebury Centre, volunteering 83 hours to help create a new outdoor space which will provide vital support for vulnerable young people.

Mike Poole-Sutherland, North West Director at Willmott Dixon said:

“It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with the college and all our valued local supply chain partners to deliver such an important project which will serve generations of Cheadle students.

“Together with Trafford and Stockport College Group we share a passion for ensuring this modern new campus has this community at its heart and we’re enormously proud of the positive legacy of opportunity it has created for students and local people.”

The opening marks the culmination of a two-year transformation journey backed by £20 million in government funding and £7 million from the college group.