The Story So Far

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College (RHACC) is one of nine Institutes of Adult Learning (IAL) in the UK. It was established on 1 October 2017 through the merger of Richmond Adult and Community College and Hillcroft College.

Although RHACC was created in 2017, a college has been on this site and operating as an adult learning centre since 1920, when it was known as The National Residential College for Women.

The college’s values are built on the IAL’s shared expertise in adult learning and its commitment to the needs of adults and communities. The college provides further education and resources to develop its students’ skills, enabling them to thrive and achieve their potential.

With two campuses and superb facilities including, a dedicated Art School and Business School, women-only education, a 120-seat theatre, specialist co-working and office space, meeting rooms, classrooms, workshops and kitchens, RHACC is a hive of activity during the day, evenings and weekends.

Serving over 8,000 students each year, RHACC offers a vibrant learning environment tailored specifically for adult learners.

Current views from around the campus

Site Context

*Satellite image of Hillcroft Campus (site boundary in yellow)*

The site is bounded by South Bank Road to the north and Oakhill Path to the south. To the west is a five to six-storey apartment building and beyond the listed building to the east is South Bank Terrace, which leads to Lime Tree Primary School.

The site area is 1.6 hectares and comprises the Hillcroft College building, outbuildings and surrounding grounds. The current college building is Grade II listed. This property was originally a house built in extensive landscaped grounds in 1877, to the designs of Sir Rowland Plumb.

In the centre of the site is a 1960s building, Powell House, which provides residential accommodation for students, however, this facility is rarely used.

The college's site in Surbiton was previously Hillcroft College, a residential adult education college for women. Originally called The National Residential College for Women, the college was established in 1920, and has always been a residential college solely for the education of adult women.

The Future

We are proposing the redevelopment of the campus to address the need for a new, high quality college building, which would sit on the western portion of the campus.

The existing accommodation at Hillcroft campus is outdated and does not meet modern teaching requirements.

This will allow us to provide the best possible facilities for all our students.

Furthermore, investing in the site with new high-quality landscaping and removing the 1975 extension, will enhance the setting of the Grade II listed building.