The Plans

New life for Old College

The vision is to bring new life to Old College, a grade 1 listed building and home of the first University College of Wales and to transform this iconic building into a major cultural and creative centre for Wales.

Our vision is to bring new life to the Old College, grade-1-listed architectural landmark and home of the first University College of Wales. We want to transform this iconic building into a major cultural and creative centre for Wales where diverse communities can engage with learning and heritage, share in discovery, exchange through dialogue and prosper from enterprise.

Inspired by the University’s founding motto ‘Nid Byd, Byd Heb Wybodaeth A World Without Knowledge is no World at all’, the Old College will offer shared facilities, resources and activities that benefit all our communities: our students, researchers, alumni, local residents, 190,000 annual visitors from around the world and thousands more through digital and community engagement. 

Detailed project plans and planning applications were approved in 2019 for the transformation of the Old College and the adjacent two Georgian villas into one centre that will attract a wide range of people of all ages and backgrounds. They will be able to enjoy activities in stunning spaces across 7 floors and 143 rooms, including 10 rooms with capacity ranging from 60 and up to 200.

Our plans are supported by Welsh Government, Ceredigion County Council and our project partners of National Museum Wales, Hay Festival and National Library of Wales.

A robust operating model and business plan is in place with projected annual gross revenues of £3.2 million from from 2027/28, 60 new jobs on site and a further 70 in other local businesses, 900 training opportunities, 400 annual volunteering opportunities, £11.4m spend in the local area by visitors and an uplift in GVA of £4.5m.