South Devon College has officially launched its cutting-edge Clean Energy Centre, a £1.5 million investment set to position the college as the South West’s regional centre of excellence for clean energy technologies. The redevelopment project, driven by government net zero ambitions and local funding support, focuses on upskilling the current and future workforce in renewable energy, electrical, and plumbing technologies.
At the heart of the transformation is the architectural input from our team at LHC Design, who expertly reimagined the existing building on Long Road in Paignton. As the original designers of the building, this time our approach focused on maximising internal space without expanding the building’s footprint, preserving the architectural integrity of the original structure. A key feature of this was the design and integration of a new mezzanine floor, which not only increased usable area but enabled the inclusion of educational booths and modern facilities tailored to emerging technologies.
“We’re proud to have delivered a solution that preserved the structural integrity and footprint of the existing building, while meeting the College’s need for growth and future-focused skills training. Green skills are vital to the future of our economy, and we’re committed to working with partners who share our vision for a more sustainable world. Projects like this one at South Devon College are a blueprint for progress.”
Mark Daley, Principle Architect on the scheme
With funding from Devon County Council and Torbay Council’s Devolution Deal, the Clean Energy Centre now houses state-of-the-art training environments. It will become a central hub for businesses across the South West, helping to retrain and upskill workers to meet the urgent demands of the green skills economy. The Centre already supports training in plumbing and electrical installations and now extends its reach to cutting-edge technologies including air and ground source heat pumps, solar thermal systems, and EV charger installation.
The interior redevelopment, made possible through LHC Design’s vision, integrates new equipment, IT upgrades – including AI-driven learning tools – and purpose-built spaces designed for flexible training delivery. This ensures the centre can offer both full-time and part-time courses, apprenticeships, and commercial upskilling pathways.
“We need to ensure our facilities are equipped with current up-to-date equipment, as it’s such fast-moving technology. We’re aiming to collaborate with manufacturers and suppliers for sponsorship of the latest tools.”
Staff will also regularly attend key industry events, such as the Installer Show, and undergo continuous professional development to keep their expertise current.
Spencer Brown, Programme Coordinator of Building Services at South Devon College
The ambition is to train and upskill 2,000 low-carbon technicians, installers, and retrofit specialists by 2030. The Centre’s renewable energy apprenticeship, launching in September, is the only one of its kind currently available in the region. Further adult and part-time courses will follow, supporting local and national growth in sustainable industries.
“As a college, we’ve gained a strong reputation in sustainability, and we’re proud to offer this newly redeveloped building – enhanced by the design expertise of LHC Design – as a flagship centre in support of the government’s mission to make Great Britain a clean energy superpower.”
Laurence Frewin, Principal at South Devon College
Locally, Torbay Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and is targeting Net Zero by 2030. The South West Net Zero Hub Retrofit Skills Report estimates a need for 18,000 trained heating engineers by 2030. This new Clean Energy Centre is a crucial step forward in addressing this demand.
For more information or to get involved, contact:
employers@southdevon.ac.uk
marketing@lhc.net