It has been announced that the National Lottery has awarded £10.5m for the re-development of Aberystwyth University’s Old College.
It is part of a £22m plan to turn the Grade I-listed building into a centre for heritage, learning and enterprise.
The Gothic building will be used as a centre for entrepreneurs and new businesses, as well as the site for a café and community rooms.
Aberystwyth graduate and Plaid Cymru Mid and West AM Simon Thomas said:
“As a former student and a current resident of Ceredigion I’m delighted to see a revival in the fortunes of Aberystwyth University’s Old College.
“When I was at university in the 1980s it was still being used for lectures. Entering the building you could feel the sense of history in the place and the Old College library was great to study because it was so quiet.”
“I met with Vice-Chancellor of the University, Elizabeth Treasure earlier this month with Ceredigion AM Elin Jones. I was excited to hear Elizabeth Treasure’s vision of a bilingual, residential university rooted in town. This renewal of the Old College is part of that vision.”
The work is due to be completed in time for the university’s 150th anniversary in 2022.
