Demolition of former Bridgend police station well under way

By Lewis Smith

THE demolition of a former police station in Bridgend is well under way this month, ready to make way for the construction of the new Bridgend College campus that has been planned for the town centre.

Pictures released by the local council show that demolition contractors are now entering the final stages of the works on the large building, and are expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

The site at Cheapside, Bridgend, forms a key part of the council’s regeneration plans for the town centre, where plans for a £50m new learning centre have been submitted to the council’s planning committee for a 131,000 sq ft campus, on the site of the former police station and multi-storey car park.

Under the proposals, the new facility would accommodate more than 850 post-16 students, providing two connecting zero buildings with a 200-seat auditorium, coffee shop and flexible meeting spaces, relocating from its existing campus on Cowbridge Road. If given the go-ahead by council bosses, it is hoped the work on the campus could begin this year, with completion ahead of the 2025 academic year.

Speaking of the work, Councillor Rhys Goode said: “The demolition of the old police station represents a key milestone in our town centre master plan and it’s really pleasing to see the continued progression of the plans for the relocation of the college.

“The new campus will play a key role in increasing town centre footfall as many students will visit the town centre during their lunch breaks or before and after they arrive for their studies. This will provide a new and varied market for many of our town centre businesses to tap into.”