Cardiff and Vale College Selects Bouygues UK for £119M Dual Campus Project
Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) has awarded Bouygues UK, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, the contract to deliver two major education facilities in South Wales: the Barry Waterfront Campus (BWC) and the Advanced Technology Centre (ATC). Both will be developed under the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model (MIM) and are expected to open in 2027.
Valued at £119 million (€143 million), the project aims to address regional education and skills needs while aligning with decarbonisation goals.
Barry Waterfront Campus (BWC)
Located on a redeveloped industrial site, the BWC will serve up to 900 students and offer vocational and continuing education in fields such as:
- Arts and design
- Personal care
- Hospitality
- Hairdressing and beauty
The campus will feature student-run facilities open to the public, including a salon and a restaurant, offering hands-on experience alongside classroom learning.
Advanced Technology Centre (ATC)
Situated at Cardiff Airport, the ATC will support nearly 2,000 students with a focus on emerging industries like:
- Artificial intelligence
- Advanced design and prototyping
- Composite materials
- Zero-carbon technologies
The facility will also include:
- Modular classrooms and workshops
- A business centre for higher education
- A manufacturing unit for composite materials
- Robotics and mechatronics labs
- A green skills house for renewable tech training
Sustainability and Community Impact
Both campuses are designed to be operationally carbon neutral and align with the Welsh Government’s stringent decarbonisation goals. Beyond the buildings, Bouygues UK and the Welsh Education Partnership Company will ensure long-term social value by promoting STEM education, addressing skills gaps, and working with local businesses to support employment and apprenticeships during construction.
Timeline and Design
The project was designed by Sheppard Robson and is set to break ground in June 2025, with completion anticipated by mid-2027.
Leadership Comment
“This project reflects our commitment to building useful, innovative, and sustainable infrastructure. By partnering with Cardiff and Vale College, we are investing in the next generation and the green transformation of education,” said Philippe Bernard, Managing Director of Bouygues UK.
Bouygues UK in Education
Bouygues UK brings a strong track record in educational construction, with notable projects including Pencoedtre High School, Westminster City School, Cardiff Innovation Campus, and Bath School of Management. Globally, Bouygues Construction has delivered projects like the BCA Academy (Singapore), Rolex Learning Center (Switzerland), and CentraleSupélec (France).
