Valleys academy plan for former court
03.02.12
Pic caption: ITEC's Managing Director's Steve Doyle and Ceri Murphy Outside ITEC's New Site in Llwynypia
A former magistrates court and nuclear bunker in the Rhondda is set to become a modern training academy for thousands of learners and job-seekers in the Valleys.
ITEC Training, one of the Welsh Government’s major contract holders for the provision of Traineeships, Steps to Employment and Apprenticeship programmes, has secured a 15-year lease on Llwynypia Magistrates Court, which closed in 2010.
At nearly 13,000 square feet, the building is twice the size of ITEC’s existing main Academy in Crawshay Court, Cardiff and will become the organisation’s centralised service facility for the whole of Rhondda Cynon Taff.
It will enable an expansion in the number and type of courses on offer to learners, possibly delivered in partnership with other training providers. The building will welcome its first students in the Spring.
A project team is also working on associated development options for the unique premises, which could include start–up business incubators, such as a café, a crèche and a hair & beauty suite, to give students real-life experience.
ITEC has well-established premises in Cardiff, Newport, Cwmbran and Porth. Following the award of a £10.7 million contract by the Welsh Government last year, the organisation has opened up further premises in Caerphilly, Pontypridd and Bridgend to help cope with an anticipated doubling in throughput of learners.
The 20-year-old, two--storey Llwynypia building includes rooms originally used for court hearings, juries, lawyers and the public as well as cells for prisoners. But it is most notable for an extraordinary network of underground, lead-lined rooms, built to withstand the aftermath of a nuclear explosion.
During the Cold War, authorities in Britain wanted to make sure at least some administrators and key personnel in every county survived an attack, emerging after14 days. The courthouse basement comes complete with a sophisticated air filtration system, blast-proof doors, self-contained water and power supplies, food storage and eating areas.
In 1992, a year after the bunker was built, the Home Office dropped the requirement. The reorganisation of court services throughout the UK in 2010 left the building without a role.
ITEC Managing Director Steve Doyle said “When the court building was placed on the market, the more we looked at the possibilities the more appropriate it became for our expansion plans.
“Among many attractions, it has extensive, flexible accommodation suitable for running many different activities on the same site in a constructive environment. It is a very high-spec building in a good position well served by rail and bus links.”
He added “We are currently considering various developmental options but we believe it is well-placed to become a flagship, academy-style institution enabling learners throughout RCT to acquire new skills and enhance their job prospects. It would also be a demonstration of our commitment to deliver the skills training that government programmes demand.”
Welsh Government Deputy Skills Minister Jeff Cuthbert said “This new centre will provide a modern skill hub for learners and job-seekers in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
“The Welsh Government is committed to raising the skill levels of the Welsh workforce and providing more work-based learning opportunities. This new facility will allow ITEC to deliver some of our programmes more effectively and it will provide wonderful opportunities for learners and job-seekers.”
