AN EMPTY education centre in the Rhondda is set to be turned into a “green skills hub” to help people adapt to a warming world.
A community asset transfer of Treherbert Education Community Centre to Black Mountains College Project (BMCP) from Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council has been agreed.
BMCP plans to secure significant capital and revenue funding to refurbish the currently vacant building and transform it into a green skills hub that offers a range of education, training and community opportunities.
It would include the potential installation of heat pumps, solar thermal panelling, photovoltaic panels, external and internal insulation and electrical vehicle charging points accessible to the wider community.
The aim is returning the building back into a climate-focused education and learning centre with all the key energy efficiency infrastructure in place to reduce its carbon footprint.
The proposed lease will enable BMCP to apply for both capital and revenue funding to renovate and retrofit the building and begin delivery of its proposed curriculum, a council report said.
Treherbert Community Education Centre was originally declared surplus in 2014 and, after a period of being occupied by a community group, has been empty since 2021.
At the strategic community asset transfer panel meeting held on September 20, 2024, it was recommended to approve the lease of 25 years to BMCP.
The report said the proposed retrofitted building would be used as an active learning environment along with other key locations in Treherbert to support a delivery programme to enable residents, communities and businesses to adapt to a warming world.
It said that the proposed green skills hub would enable BMCP to achieve this by creating a focus for net zero skills development and green industry creation in Rhondda Cynon Taf and the wider Valleys areas.
Other benefits reported by BCMP in the courses they’ve delivered to date include sustained engagement of students with additional health and learning support needs who would normally not engage with formal learning environments.
The report also acknowledged there was the potential for the green skills hub to contribute to the economic development in the north of the valley as with increased footfall from staff, students, and visitors, Treherbert’s high street could see an increase in footfall and a more diverse customer base.
