South Gloucestershire & Stroud College (SGS) is planning to sell off its science and technology campus in Berkeley, it has announced. The higher education institute, which is based in South Gloucestershire and Stroud, has signed terms with Chiltern Vital Group (CVG), it confirmed on Monday (January 29).
The sale of the multimillion-pound science and technology park is subject to due diligence and contract, but SGS said it would “enable significant commercial investment” into the site and provide “significant economic opportunities” to the sub-region.
CVG is a UK project creator and developer in the zero-carbon energy, digital education and technology sectors, and has an existing project portfolio in excess of £1bn. One of its significant shareholders is Vital Energi – also a major player in the zero-carbon energy space, which includes the decarbonising and re-use of waste heat. It is expected the sale to the company will be completed by mid-2024.
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Kevin Hamblin, chief executive of SGS College Group, said: “The possible acquisition of SGS Berkeley by this energy consortium would not just be a transaction, it would create a partnership that embodies a mutual commitment to spearheading innovations in nuclear technology.
“This collaboration would be pivotal for SGS College, as it ensures the ongoing role of the college at SGS Berkeley as a key educational partner, providing tailored training and research opportunities in line with the ground-breaking advancements championed by the consortium. The sale would mark a significant milestone in the college’s history, promising to create a new era of energy innovation and educational excellence in the region.”
Nearly 400 students are based at SGS’s University Technical College (UTC), which is located at the Berkeley campus. However, SGS has said UTC will maintain its operations amid the campus transition and for the long-term future. The institute said the sale would ensure the continuation of “high-quality education” in engineering and digital technologies and that the presence of UTC at Berkeley was “crucial” for fostering future talent.
Chris Turner, chief executive of CVG and chairman of the Yorkshire Energy Freeport Park, said: “We are very honoured to have been selected by SGS College as the preferred bidder to deliver this international advanced zero-carbon nuclear technology park for training, further and higher education, research and development, and applications testing.”
Mr Turner said the project represented the “first step” in the creation of a Severn Edge zero-carbon hub, including the potential for deployment of new nuclear generation technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs) at Oldbury.
“We are pleased the Western Gateway partnership has acknowledged our proposal as complementary to their work leading the Severn Edge project with the support of landowners and local authorities,” he said. “This initiative can only serve to attract more high technology inward investment and create a wide range of sustainable, long-term, skilled jobs in the region.”
CVG is currently working with Rolls Royce Small Modular Reactors and the University of Bristol to establish a low-carbon energy ‘super cluster’ at Berkeley and Oldbury that SGS said “would greatly facilitate” the future deployment of SMRs and related technologies.
Councillor Mark Hawthorne, vice-chair of Western Gateway and leader of Gloucestershire County Council, added: “It’s great to see our vision for a Severn Edge low-carbon energy campus at Berkeley and Oldbury moving one step closer with this nuclear innovation opportunity. The Western Gateway brings together the great business, academia and local leaders we have across South Wales and Western England to build on our potential to unleash world leading innovation and create economic growth.
“We want to see our Severn Edge sites creating new green jobs and skills opportunities for local communities whilst also providing the low carbon energy we need to power our economy. I look forward to working with the consortium as we continue to make the case for this area to lead a clean energy revolution for the country.”
The SGS board formalised heads of terms on January 25, 2024, and any agreement is expected to be completed after due diligence on or before July 2024.
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