Willmott Dixon has been appointed to build a landmark new campus for the College of North West London, part of the United Colleges Group, at Wembley Park – a £92 million project that places a state-of-the-art education facility on Olympic Way, steps from the national stadium and one of London’s most celebrated destinations.
Secured through the Southern Construction Framework, the scheme directly supports United Colleges Group’s Estate Strategy and Brent Council’s ambition to establish an educational quarter at Wembley. A long-disused building will be transformed into a vibrant hub of education and community life, contributing to the wider, long-term regeneration of the area.
A landmark learning environment at Wembley Park
The new eight-storey building provides 14,200m² of internal area, designed around three stacked horizontal volumes. Specialist vocational workshops occupy the lower floors, a central student hub opens onto a landscaped deck with views over Wembley Way, and teaching spaces sit above. A central atrium threads through the full height of the building, connecting every floor and filling the interior with light and openness.
What we are delivering
The campus has been designed around the learner experience, bringing specialist vocational facilities, inclusive provision and generous shared spaces together under one roof:
- Specialist vocational workshops on the lower floors, from bricklaying and joinery to hairdressing salons and science laboratories.
- A central student hub opening onto a landscaped deck with views over Wembley Way.
- Generic teaching spaces and a dedicated Learning Support department, alongside generous shared social areas.
- A full-height central atrium connecting every floor and filling the interior with natural light.
- Inclusive design woven through the building from the outset, with integrated and expanded provision for Learners with Learning Disabilities or Difficulties (LLDD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).
Building the skills the UK needs
The new campus will play a meaningful role in developing the talent the UK needs to grow its economy and reach net zero. By expanding provision in construction, engineering and green skills, the college will be better placed to equip the next generation of workers with the practical expertise employers are seeking in Brent, across London and beyond.
The appointment adds to Willmott Dixon’s growing portfolio of further and higher education projects, alongside recent schemes for Queen Mary University of London, the University of Staffordshire and Bridgend College. The project is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating, reflecting Willmott Dixon’s commitment to sustainable, responsible delivery.
“Winning the contract to deliver this landmark project for the College of North West London is a real privilege. This is about more than 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.”
Simon Ramage, Managing Director, London & East, Willmott Dixon