Green Light For New College Development - 16 March 2005
At its meeting on 16 March 2005 the national Learning and Skills Council confirmed a minimum guaranteed contribution of £18m to the £50m redevelopment of Suffolk College in central Ipswich. The redevelopment of the College is part of the creation of the Ipswich Education Quarter and will be undertaken alongside the establishment of University Campus Suffolk. Other elements of the funding package include receipts from the sale of land, a contribution from the East of England Development Agency, and borrowing.
Commenting on the announcement Nick Foster, Chief Executive of Suffolk Learning and Skills Council said: "The redevelopment of Suffolk College will enhance the landscape of vocational education and skills training in Suffolk. It is a project of regional importance and will make a significant contribution to the expansion of learning opportunities in line with national and local priorities".
The £50m proposal will see the replacement of the Colleges current buildings some dating back to the early 1960's with new buildings including engineering and construction workshops, high quality training restaurants and beauty therapy facilities providing real work environments for students, and contemporary IT facilities in a purpose designed learning resource centre and across the campus.
Professor Dave Muller, College Principal said: "The new College will provide state of the art facilities for students and staff in buildings fit for the 21st century. The decision of the national and local LSC to support our proposal reflects the excellence of our current work and our ability to grow the quantity and quality of our learning programmes in the future".
Tony Preston, chair of the Suffolk Development Agency said: "A new College in Ipswich and a new University Campus is great news for business. Together they should help Suffolk develop the trained and skilled workforce required for the future".
It is anticipated that work on the new College will start in 2006 and open during the 2007/8 academic year.
Commenting on the development Dr Peter Funnell , Assistant Principal (Learning Development) said: "The endorsement of the LSC is crucial at this stage. The level of financial support being offered is significant by national standards and this success reflects the detailed and comprehensive preparatory work undertaken both within the College and by our collaborative partners. The new College will provide the base for the provision of high quality vocational learning for both 14 - 19 year olds in line with national policy and also to adults seeking to train and retrain for future employment"
“This is great news for future generations of students” said Amy Wragg , a current Suffolk College ‘A’ level student “the College is already a great place to study, new accommodation will make it even better”
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
For further information please contact:
Tracey Bailey, Promotions & Information Centre Manager
Tel: 01473 296520
Email: traceybailey@suffolk.ac.uk
Dr Peter Funnell, Assistant Principal (Learning Development)
Tel: 01473 296535
Email: peterfunnell@suffolk.ac.uk
Issued by Promotions, 16 March 2005