Mansfield: Former Debenhams set for college expansion

The college had already been running courses from two smaller units at the shopping centre

A college has been granted permission to expand into a former Debenhams store.

West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield was given the go ahead to create 10 new classrooms in the empty unit at Four Seasons Shopping Centre.

Debenhams closed in May 2021 when the nationwide chain collapsed following the Covid pandemic.

The college said the expansion would help it deal with growing numbers of students at its Derby Road campus.

It will accommodate some of the college's adult learners and replace its existing, smaller site for adults and community provision which had been based in two other, former retail units in the Four Seasons since September.

Shopping centre bosses said the move would provide "a welcome boost to centre retailers and the town's high street".

There has been a substantial increase in students numbers, according to the college

Mansfield District Council ruled that the change would not require planning permission, meaning the college could move forward with its plans, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

According to the planning application, the ground floor of the unit will be converted into 10 classrooms for English, Maths, and English as a second language for adults.

It is hoped that support staff will relocate to the former store between July and August, with students arriving in September.

In March - when the application was submitted - Gavin Peake, director of IT, estates and learning resources at the college, said : "We are seeing a very substantial year-on-year increase in student numbers, particularly those aged 16-18, and expect this to continue until at least 2028.

"As such, we require more teaching space at our main campus, which will involve turning offices into classrooms."

He added that the college had an "initial three-and-a-half-year lease" for the unit which would enable it to teach a number of adult courses from one site.

Rebekah O'Neill, centre manager of the Four Seasons Shopping Centre, previously said: "We've had some great feedback from our customers since the college opened their spaces in the centre last year, and the additional footfall from the college staff and learners based at the centre following this move will also provide a welcome boost to centre retailers and the town's high street."