Plans for new occupier to take over former Doncaster rail college site
Doncaster Council is set to enter negotations with a new occupier to reopen the former rail college as an educational building.
Next Wednesday (14 August) cabinet will hear a proposal for a new occupier to reopen the site of former National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure (NCATI) for educational use.
The site on Carolina Way opened in 2017 with the aim to train people in engineering and rail to work on the major rail project HS2.
In 2021, the college was forced to scale back and rebrand due to delays to HS2, which the government has since scrapped entirely in the north.
Following further difficulties and low student numbers, the college closed in July 2023.
The site went into council ownership following its closure, and the authority began assessing potential routes to bring the building back into use.
An agreement with the Department for Education meant that the building could only reopen if it was used for post-16 education or skills development, limiting the options available.
A preferred occupier has now been identified, which will remain confidential during commercial negotiations.
If cabinet approves the proposal and negotiations are successful, the provider will enter into a 25-year lease with the council to reopen the site for educational use.
Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “This is really encouraging news that this iconic looking building could continue as an educational centre in Doncaster.
“The building itself offers such an exciting opportunity for a new education provider to help support our ambitions for lifelong learning and skills.”