Work is beginning on a world class, £5.6 million outdoor education and training centre in Exeter.

The centre, at Haven Banks on the canal basin, will be built and paid for by Devon County Council. And, in a pioneering partnership, it will be run with Exeter College on a day-to-day basis. Work begins on the centre later this month. It is due to be completed in April 2013.

A special ground-breaking ceremony will be held at the site at 10.30am on Monday 20 February. Devon County Council chairman Jeremy Yabsley will perform the ceremony. He will be joined by council leader John Hart, deputy leader John Clatworthy, Cabinet member for schools and learning, Christine Channon, and Cabinet member for Exeter, Andrew Leadbetter.

Exeter College deputy principal Rebecca King and assistant principal Rob Bosworth will also be present with the chairman of Exeter Canal and Quay Trust, Alan Williamson, and Exeter City Council leader Pete Edwards. The new development will replace the outdated existing activity centre on the Quay, that currently provides outdoor education courses for more than 25,000 young people a year. They include courses for sailing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, climbing, caving, orienteering, archery, raft building, team building and first aid at Haven Banks and locations around Devon.

The new centre will provide a contemporary hub for outdoor adventure activities for young people and adults from Exeter and Devon and across the region.
Devon County Council leader John Hart said: “This is another major investment in Exeter by Devon County Council which will only serve to boost the economy of the city. It is the biggest single sum ever to be allocated from the proceeds of the sale of Exeter Airport. The new centre will provide 21st century facilities for a wide range of activities for both young people and adults in the growing sector of adventure pursuits. It is a major boost for Exeter and I am delighted that we have been able to enter into a long-term partnership with Exeter College to run the whole operation.”

Exeter College Principal, Richard Atkins, said: “Exeter College is delighted to be working as a strategic partner with Devon County Council as they begin the build project to establish a world-class outdoor education and training centre for the people of Devon. This initiative will make a major contribution to the continued development and regeneration of the Exeter Canal Basin and will ensure that the area becomes a thriving hub for outdoor adventurous activities. This new centre will enable us to offer an innovative approach to education and training, with provision that will encompass the individual needs of a wide range of students, including those who are currently disengaged from education through to professionals undertaking training and development in leadership and management. It will build on the continued success of the Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Public Services programmes at the College and this will be an outstanding learning environment benefiting a wide range of learners from across Devon in this exciting and growing sector.”

Centre manager Ben Hedden said: “We are delighted construction of the new centre has begun. The long awaited new facility will provide Exeter and the wider community with recreational and educational facilities which will be second to none. This will allow us to further engage young people and adults of every ability in the positive, adventurous activities we already provide. Although our present facilities have served us well for over 25 years, the new centre will offer state-of-the-art facilities which will complement and extend the professional courses and activities we already offer.”

Alan Williamson, chairman of Exeter Canal and Quay Trust, said: “We fully support this exciting proposal. It will be a significant factor in helping to continue the regeneration of the area.”

Local county councillor Vanessa Newcombe said: “I am so excited that work is beginning at last on this amazing project, for which I obtained the original £2.75million from the Invest in Devon fund some years ago. It will provide facilities unmatched in the South West and be accessible to all.”

The centre has been designed by NPS and is being built by Midas. Mike O'Neill, Executive Director of Midas Construction in Devon and Cornwall said: “As a local business, we are delighted to be part of this wonderful project which will prove a huge asset to the local community and to young people in particular. It will do much to enhance Exeter's Quayside for many years to come while securing local employment during the construction phase.”