DEVELOPERS have warned that the Warrington and Vale Royal College (WVRC) Hartford campus will ‘lie vacant and derelict’ should controversial 108-home plans not be approved.

An application to demolish the Chester Road campus and build new houses has now been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council, whose planning committee will decide whether or not to grant permission.

In a planning statement, Warrington-based developer Lane End said the college had suffered from a ‘poor reputation’ in Northwich, which impacted upon recruitment and led to courses being moved to sister sites in Winsford and Warrington.

As a result, the site – formerly Mid Cheshire College – is set to be demolished and redeveloped to ‘ensure the financial viability and long-term sustainability’ of WVRC, with a renewed focus on Winsford which included a £300,000 investment ahead of the 2018/19 academic year.

Formerly Mid Cheshire College, a merger with Warrington Collegiate led to the formation of WVRC, which in 2017/18 began to ‘take stock of learner numbers, income and costs’.

A business case for the campus demolition plans said: “The substantial issues of poor reputation at Hartford campus and increased competition has severely impacted upon recruitment, and Warrington and Vale Royal College has been losing its market share since 2015/16.

“As a result, college income at the Hartford Campus in particular has fallen significantly over time.”

It added: “It will be impossible financially to continue to carry the running costs for Hartford campus into 2019/20 given that less than eight per cent of the floor area is currently being utilised for only three days a week.

“In the event that planning permission is not granted for the proposed development, then the site will simply lie vacant and derelict.”

The plans include five two-bedroom terraced homes, 18 three-bedroom terraced, 20 three-bedroom semi-detached, 15 three-bedroom semi-detached with garage, 31 three-bedroom detached with garage, and 19 four-bedroom detached with garage.

A planning statement adds that talks are ongoing regarding an adult learning provision elsewhere in Northwich – possibly Barons Quay – although ‘there must be a clear and demonstrated business case’ before any decision is taken.

The plans were labelled a ‘tragedy’ when first announced back late last year, with Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury launching a petition to reverse the decision.

A consultation event at Winnington Park Rugby Club in November also drew angry residents who pledged to object to the plans.

Mr Amesbury said: "The MP for Weaver Vale added: “The developers are trying to rewrite history here by describing the college as having a ‘poor reputation’.

"While it had had some recent challenges, not least due to the government’s chronic underfunding of the further education sector, it has previously received an Outstanding Ofsted inspection.

“Let’s be clear, the people of Northwich value this campus – a petition I started calling for these plans to be scrapped attracted over 2,500 signatures in the first 24 hours, and I have received countless emails and letters on the subject.

"I also met with Hartford Parish Council recently where the college plans were the very top of the agenda. 

“So-called challenges in student recruitment were no doubt at least partly due to the fact that – in my view – not enough was being done to successfully market the college. This is something I’ve been saying right from the start. 

“In addition to wanting to retain further education here, Hartford is already suffering from a lack of infrastructure and simply can’t handle another large housing development. 

“Working with local councillors and the parish council I will be working hard to ensure a further education offer is retained in Northwich. 

“I registered my opposition to this whole scheme with Cheshire West and Chester Council at the first opportunity and I will be formally objecting to these latest proposals.”