Coleg Cambria Launches £1.5m Eco-Friendly Upgrade at Yale Campus

Coleg Cambria is set to reveal a £1.5 million enhancement project at its Yale campus in Wrexham, supported by funding from the Welsh Government and Salix Finance. This initiative is a significant part of the college’s broader ambition to establish itself as one of Wales’ most environmentally sustainable educational institutions.

The upcoming improvements include a comprehensive refurbishment of E Block, which houses the new CAMU Welsh language centre. This upgrade aims to reduce the building’s carbon footprint through modernised heating and energy systems, enhancing both efficiency and the learning environment for students and staff.

In addition to the building works, the college is expanding its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by installing new charging points across all Cambria campuses, including sites in Wrexham, Deeside, Northop, and Llysfasi. This supports a transition towards low-carbon travel options for the college community.

These developments complement ongoing sustainability projects at Cambria, such as the introduction of a growing electric vehicle fleet and a large-scale solar energy installation at the Deeside campus, scheduled to become operational this summer. Currently, over 1,300 solar panels across the college generate more than 265,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually, an amount comparable to driving an electric car around the Earth’s equator more than 42 times or making two round trips to the moon.

Alex Evans, Head of Estates, emphasised the college’s commitment to sustainability: “This is about more than buildings and infrastructure, it’s about creating campuses that are ready for the future and demonstrating to our students that sustainability is something we take very seriously.” He highlighted that the scale of investment reflects the priority given to embedding environmental responsibility throughout the organisation.

Jenny Prendergast, Health, Safety and Sustainability Manager, explained the college’s aim to make sustainability a visible part of everyday campus life: “We want it to be something our students can see and feel every day, not just something they read about in a strategy document.”

Beyond infrastructure, Coleg Cambria has expanded its environmental initiatives across North Wales. Wildflower meadows covering an area equivalent to more than two football pitches have been established at the Northop, Deeside, and Yale campuses, providing habitat for an estimated 380,000 bees daily. Additional biodiversity efforts include the installation of swift nesting boxes and hedgehog homes, alongside rain gardens developed in partnership with the Welsh Dee Trust to manage water flow and reduce flood risks in the Dee catchment area.

Students actively contribute to these sustainability efforts by planting at least 1,500 trees annually, participating in community litter picks, and volunteering with local projects such as repair cafés and Incredible Edible initiatives.

Sophie Hughes-Saunier, Sustainability Specialist, noted the importance of aligning the college’s values with those of its students: “Our students are passionate about the environment and the future of the planet, and it’s important that their college reflects those values.”

Alex concluded, “By investing in cleaner energy, electric transport and greener buildings, we are reducing our environmental impact and helping to prepare our learners for the future.”