Bournemouth and Poole College Receives the Keys to New £37m Compass Building
Bournemouth and Poole College has taken ownership of its new £37m Lansdowne campus development.
A symbolic key handover from construction partner Kier on 5 May marked the end of a two-year build phase and the start of preparations for the first students arriving this autumn.
This major project, managed by the Department for Education (DfE) in collaboration with Kier was a result of a multi-million-pound investment from the government’s £1.5bn Further Education Capital Transformation Fund. Replacing outdated blocks with a new four-storey teaching facility, the project also included the careful refurbishment of the 1910s Clock Tower Building, a landmark heritage site in Bournemouth’s Lansdowne area.
The new 8,500sqm facilities, set to welcome thousands of students for the first time at the start of the next academic year, will provide a modern teaching environment for courses in media, computing, sport, travel, hair, beauty, hospitality and more. With the addition of the public-facing, student-run Escoffier restaurant and the new Horizon salons, it will not only provide real-world learning environments but also offer new amenities for the local community to enjoy.
Anne-Marie Heerey, Director of Estates at Bournemouth and Poole College, said:
"Receiving the keys to the Compass Building is a huge moment for us. This £37m project is a serious investment in the local economy and the people who drive it. The hard hats are now coming off, and our focus shifts to equipping the spaces and familiarising ourselves with our new surroundings. We cannot wait to open the doors this autumn and see our students get to work in a facility they truly deserve."
Steve Topliss, operations director at Kier Construction Southern, said:
"This moment marks a significant milestone at Bournemouth and Poole College. Over the past two years, our experienced team has worked closely with the Department for Education, the College, and our trusted supply chain partners to bring this first-class education facility to life.
“We continue our work on site, adding the finishing touches to the restoration of the historic Clock Tower Building – ensuring students can enjoy their modern new campus, while maintaining the important heritage of the College.”
Following the handover, the summer months will see all necessary specialist equipment moved into the building and final landscaping get underway, with everything on track for the new intake of students to experience in September.
