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Students ‘break the wall’ to mark start of Willmott Dixon college build
Nicky Roger Associate editor
Symbolic event marks start of new Wembley Campus, which will deliver construction-focused education
Students and staff Breaking the Wall of the new College of North West London campus on Olympic Way Image: Paul Cochrane
Students, staff and partners gathered last week for a symbolic “Breaking the Wall” ceremony to mark the start of construction on a brand-new campus for the College of North West London, delivered by Willmott Dixon.
Willmott Dixon has been appointed as main contractor and will deliver the project, transforming the site into a high-quality, future-facing educational facility due for completion in 2029.
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The Breaking the Wall ceremony marks the official start of construction works on site. The event took place inside a long-unused office building that will be demolished to make way for the new campus, forming part of a wider regeneration programme across Wembley and Dollis Hill.
The transformation will deliver thousands of new homes, community facilities and green spaces across the borough, while enabling investment in a new state-of-the-art college campus in the heart of Wembley.
Student Beheshta breaking the wall. Image: United Colleges Group
The new campus will be built on Olympic Way, the pedestrian route connecting Wembley Park station with Wembley Stadium, used by thousands of people attending major sporting and entertainment events.
It will comprise three stacked horizontal volumes over eight floors, with vocational workshops at lower levels, a central student hub with support spaces opening onto a landscaped deck overlooking Wembley Way, and teaching spaces above. A central atrium runs through the building, creating openness and vertical connection throughout.
The design has been developed by leading architects WilkinsonEyre with Bidwells (project management), Stace (cost consultancy and employer’s agent), Eckersley O’Callaghan (structural and civil engineering), Max Fordham (building services), and BBUK (landscape design).
Visualisations produced by WilkinsonEyre Architects for United Colleges Group. Image: United Colleges Group
The new campus has been made possible through a partnership with The Hill Group and Pinnacle Investments, whose associated scheme includes the redevelopment of the college’s existing sites in Wembley and Willesden. The project has also been developed with the support of Brent Council, the Department for Education and the Greater London Authority.
The council will be raising up to £11.2m from the developers via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. It is an important tool for local authorities to use to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area. They have also worked with the developers to ensure that 20% of the 1900 homes built will be affordable.
Skills for a changing economy
The campus will provide a modern and sustainable learning environment designed to equip students with the skills needed for a fast-changing economy.
The College of North West London began life as Willesden Polytechnic in 1891, providing technical, vocational and construction-focused education to support skills development across Brent and beyond.
This new campus will provide facilities and curriculum aligned with the UK government’s Assessment of priority skills to 2030 and wider education and skills priorities, supporting the need for stronger technical and vocational pathways, entry-level training and qualifications, and addressing critical skills gaps in areas such as AI, digital and advanced technologies.
It includes a broad mix of specialist vocational workshops, including bricklaying and joinery, while also developing the green skills, engineering and construction talent needed to support the UK’s productivity, growth and transition to a net zero economy.
Simon Ramage, MD of Willmott Dixon. Image: LinkedIn
Simon Ramage, managing director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We're excited to be appointed to deliver this landmark project for the College of North West London. This isn't just a building, it's a place of opportunity for generations of students to come, equipping them with the skills that matter.
“We look forward to working closely with the college to deliver a facility that is truly worthy of the ambitions of everyone who will learn there.”
Following the ceremony, Stephen Davis, CEO and group principal of United Colleges Group, said: “This new campus on Olympic Way will place students at the heart of one of London’s most iconic locations, providing modern facilities to support future skills in areas including construction, digital and green technologies, as well as a hospitality academy, in line with local and national priorities.
“It also ensures that our 130-year legacy in Brent continues for generations to come, transforming a disused building into a place of opportunity and ambition for London and Londoners.”
Beheshta from Neasden was one of the students to take part in the Breaking the Wall ceremony. She said: “I didn’t think I would actually get to smash a wall with a sledgehammer; it was so much fun! The event was really interesting; I got to network with lots of different people from the construction industry and found out about the wide variety of jobs available.”
