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Croxteth education hub to get green light

Plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Myerscough College’s facilities at Croxteth Park in Liverpool are set to get the green light.

Myerscough College provides a very specific, vocational and land-use based education service, the only one of its kind on Merseyside.

A report to the Cabinet on Friday 25 November is recommending that the former Glendale council depot on the site is transferred to the College on a lease basis and redeveloped as new, expanded teaching facilities to replace their current outdated and inflexible accommodation.

The city council is to contribute £500k to the scheme by way of a discounted rent on the site over the next 10 years, in addition to £1m from the College and £2m from the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, Cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The College does fantastic work but is working out of accommodation that is no longer suitable for modern teaching methods.

“It will enhance and improve their work and mean that students interested in studying for the qualifications that they offer can do so in the best quality surroundings.

“As well as delivering good quality education and training, it will also boost the local economy as local workers and apprentices will be employed during the construction phase.”

When complete, the new-look Myerscough College Croxteth Centre – which was given planning permission in October 2016 - will be made up of single-storey buildings sited behind a wall opposite the Home Farm area of the site.

The new training facilities will include three animal studies blocks along with stabling, aviaries and pens for goats, alpacas and hens adjacent to the Grade II listed former Laundry House.

Two other buildings will be converted for animal housing and dog grooming, and a third will be for reptiles, amphibians and tropical species as well as accommodation for staff and students.

Helen Eaton, Myerscough’s Assistant Principal for Liverpool said: “Myerscough Liverpool was first established in 1999 in partnership with the city council and over time we have developed to provide a range of courses at Croxteth Park.

“We’ve worked closely with Glendale for a number of years and have been their sole training provider for almost a decade and so taking control of their depot is the next logical step of what will hopefully further enhance our education offer to the students of Merseyside.

“We carried out a review of our facilities at Croxteth Park before submitting our plans and developing this area of the park is the most viable and cost effective. We can’t wait for work to begin.”

Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, added: “This scheme complements our wider plans for Croxteth Park.

“The new arrangements with Myerscough will increase our income and free up space in Croxteth Hall and Farm.

“The previous transfer of the Farm to NSC, a local social enterprise, has bought new investment in the farm, increased visitor numbers, local jobs and saved the city council around £250,000 a year.

“We will shortly be seeking a partner to run the Hall and Park so that they become self-sustaining.”

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