Uniquely, for such a large centre of population, North Ayrshire has no mainstream further education college. James Watt College Further and Higher Education and North Ayrshire Council recognised that the provision of such a facility would represent a significant boost to the local community and play an important role in the social and economic regeneration of North Ayrshire.

The College has been involved in the promotion, planning and development of a new purpose built further education facility since the Spring of 1996.

The new facility will be a high quality medium sized community college, offering a wide range of education and training opportunities by the academic year 2000-2001.

Under-provision of further education in North Ayrshire has been well documented by a number of independent reports in recent years, notably by Coopers & Lybrand’s North Ayrshire Further Education Review (1996) and Professor Tom McCool’s Scottish Office commissioned report and study into the "Demand for and Provision of Further Education in North Ayrshire" (1997). Most recently a report by Deloitte and Touche for Enterprise Ayrshire (1998) confirmed the situation and was very supportive of James Watt College of Further and Higher Education leading the project.

An OJEC notice was published in May 1997 and from the expressions of interest received, 3 consortia were selected as bidders. The bidders’ proposals were received in May 1998 and a preferred bidder was chosen in August 1998.

Melville Dundas lead the chosen consortia and other members include the Bank of Scotland and Quayle Munro. The new facility will be located in Kilwinning, on a site owned by James Watt College which is adjacent to the town centre and is strategically situated on the Glasgow-Ayrshire rail network. Kilwinning is adjacent to Irvine new town, one of Scotland’s most dynamic and successful new towns.

The college market tested PFI as one of several procurement options. On a value for money assessment the decision was taken by the College to use PFI as the preferred option. This project will be the second in Scotland to provide further education teaching facilities using PFI.

The Scheme reached financial close on 30  March 1999 and provides for:-

• the building of a new Community College, capable of accommodating 850 students on a daily basis by 2002/2003 at an initial capital cost of £8.6M;
• the servicing and maintenance of the facility for 25 years by the consortium led by Melville Dundas and including Quayle Munro, Bank of Scotland and Gardner Merchant;
• the transfer of risks to the private sector during the construction period and thereafter on items such as maintenance costs, availability etc.

The consortium will design and build the centre and are responsible for all maintenance, facilities management, care-taking and catering services, leaving the college free to concentrate on teaching.

The funding package includes support from the European Regional Development Fund, North Ayrshire Council, Enterprise Ayrshire and the Scottish Office.

The College will open to students in August 2000.

Sponsor – James Watt College of Further and Higher Education
Contact – Vice Principal – Alastair Martin (Tel 01475 553001)
Winning Consortium – KE Project Ltd comprising:
Melville Dundas, Quayle Munro and Bank of Scotland.
Capital Value - £8.6m
Contract Length - 25 yrs
Advisers to the College:-
Financial – PricewaterhouseCoopers
Legal – Dundas & Wilson
Technical – Doig & Smith
Senior Lender - Bank of Scotland
Scottish Office Contact - Mrs Riona Bell (Tel 0131 244 0265)