A leading law firm which advised on the redevelopment of City of Wolverhampton College says the project is a landmark investment in the city’s future.
FBC Manby Bowdler senior partner Andrew Wynne led an expert legal team from the firm advising the college over the development of its new city centre campus – part of City of Wolverhampton Council’s £61 million City Learning Quarter development – for the last nine years.
Andrew who has acted for the college for the last 15 years said he was enormously proud to have helped bring the project to fruition.
“I have been involved with the project since its inception nearly a decade ago and it is wonderful to see it come to completion on time and on budget. It will be of enormous benefit to both the college and the city and is a landmark vote of confidence in the future,” said Andrew.
“It has been a very complex legal case with specialist property, lending, corporate and governmental law all involved but one which has been immensely satisfying to be involved in.
“I have been engaged in the negotiation and completion of legal contracts with local and national bodies with the support of key colleagues, including our property partner Alison Price.
“The project has really highlighted the depth of talent and expertise we have at FBC Manby Bowdler and the huge amount of specialist knowledge we have at our disposal.
“It also shows the importance of having a strong, long-standing relationship with a client, which is something we always work hard to achieve. The leadership of the college was passionate about this transformative development and we were equally dedicated to providing the necessary legal support.”
The new campus, which opened to students on 4 November, is based around the Old Hall Street and St George’s Parade area in the city centre, incorporating a site on the corner of Garrick Street and Bilston Street where the former Faces nightclub building once stood and also making use of the college’s former Metro One building.
The £61 million scheme – supported by Government funding – has enabled the college to move from its outdated Paget Road site, in Compton, and will improve the education, career and life chances of thousands of people from across the region due to its central location and easy access via public transport.
‘I think it’s fair to say this has transformed the college into a truly regional further education institution on a par with any of the provision in Birmingham,” Andrew added.
Louise Fall, principal and chief executive of the college, said: “After many years of discussion and planning, we are delighted that the vision of a city centre campus has finally become a reality.
“The new building is absolutely fabulous – its modern facilities will transform learning as we know it and further position the college as a leading provider of further education across the region.
“Bringing the building to fruition has been a major project for everyone involved and we are extremely grateful to Andrew and his team for their continued commitment to the project and their part in helping to deliver this fantastic facility on time.”
The project was initially supported by investment from the city council with a further £49 million coming through UK Government funding, plus additional government grants and contributions from the college and council.
Some 45,000 people are expected to benefit from learning at the City Learning Quarter over the next ten years with around 7,500 apprenticeships set to be started.
The city centre campus – along with improvements to the neighbouring Adult Education Wolverhampton and Central Library facilities – is phase two of the council’s transformational City Learning Quarter masterplan.
Phase one of the plan saw the construction of an £8.1 million specialist Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre at the college’s Wellington Road campus, in Bilston, which opened to students in September 2024.
FBC Manby Bowdler has bases across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Knowle, Shropshire and Worcestershire and is one of the region’s most successful law firms, employing more than 200 people.
Turnover topped £16 million in the last year and the firm has plans to double its size in the next 24 months.
