More than 拢10m of lottery money has been earmarked for the scheme. The total cost of the redevelopment is estimated to be around 拢22m, with the university planning other sources of financing for the project including a major fundraising appeal.
Aberystwyth University has initially been granted development funding of 拢849,500 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans and ultimately unlock the full 拢10,581,800.
The aim is to complete Old College鈥檚 transformation in time for the university鈥檚 150th anniversary in 2022. Work is now underway to develop plans for the building as a performance and gallery space for artists, exhibitions and musicians, a centre for entrepreneurs and new businesses, as well as caf茅 and community rooms. It will also house a university museum, allowing some of the 20,000 items normally in storage to be shown the light of day. A new science centre will showcase interactive displays alongside a planetarium and 4D facility, highlighting the university鈥檚 links with the European Space Agency.
The Grade I listed Old College was purchased by the University of Wales for 拢10,000 in 1867 using money donated by the local community. The Gothic seafront building first opened its doors to students in 1872 and saw thousands of students come and go for almost a century, before Aberystwyth University moved to a newly built campus in the 1960s.
Parliamentary undersecretary of state for arts, heritage and tourism John Glen said: 鈥淎berystwyth Old College is a treasured local building that is recognised as one of the UK鈥檚 most significant pieces of Gothic revival architecture. This fantastic scheme is so much more than a restoration project. Thanks to the 拢10.5 million contribution from National Lottery players, it will create a thriving visitor and learning destination that will provide new cultural and community resources for Aberystwyth and West Wales and boost the wider Welsh economy.鈥�
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