Cardiff and Vale College – Advanced Technology Centre and Barry Waterfront Campus

Wales

Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) is setting a new benchmark for education infrastructure as the first college delivered by WEPCo under the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model (MIM). This pioneering project brings together public and private sector expertise to create two transformative campuses in the Vale of Glamorgan, driving regeneration and delivering lasting social and economic impact.

The Advanced Technology Centre (ATC), located in Cardiff Airport’s Enterprise Zone, will provide 13,000 sqm of cutting-edge facilities for around 2,000 learners. Designed to meet future workforce needs, the ATC will house a Higher Education centre, lecture theatre, and vocational workshops for construction, automotive, and green technologies. Specialist spaces will include robotics labs, composites manufacturing, and next-generation facilities for AI, advanced engineering, and net-zero innovation—positioning Wales at the forefront of technological education.

The Barry Waterfront Campus (BWC), a 6,000 sqm community college on a regenerated brownfield site, will support 900 students and integrate public-facing amenities such as a bistro and hair and beauty salon. This unique approach blends education with real-world experience, strengthening community engagement and creating vibrant learning environments. Both campuses exemplify sustainability, designed to achieve Net Zero Carbon in Operation, meet Welsh Government’s stringent embodied carbon target of ≤800kgCO₂e/m², and achieve BREEAM Excellent. Financial Close was reached in March 2025, with Bouygues UK delivering construction and completion expected in Summer 2027. This project is a flagship example of innovation, partnership, and design excellence shaping the future of education in Wales.