Galliford Try has started work to redevelop Merrist Wood College and University Centre, on behalf of education and training group Activate Learning, and the Department for Education.

The £21 million project will see new state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities created including two new teaching blocks and a large specialist greenhouse developed on the campus for the college which specialises in horticulture and other land based educational programmes. The new facilities are to be equipped to support immersive digital technologies allowing flexible course delivery.


The scheme, which is being developed to broaden the college's curriculum, is funded by the £1.5bn Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, aimed at upgrading and transforming further education colleges to enhance post-16 education.

Gavin Bridge, Managing Director for Galliford Try Building Southern, stated: "We are delighted to work alongside Active Learning and our stakeholders to deliver another high-quality facility that will address the evolving educational needs of the community, staff and students."