Northumberland College grant will help build campus

Sep 8 2010 by Nicola Juncar, The Journal

NORTHUMBERLAND College is to receive a much-needed cash boost from the Government, one year after extensive building plans had to be scrapped.

The further education college had a £100m plan to build modern campuses in three locations scrapped last summer when funding from the Learning and Skills Council fell through.

Building work was due to start last year on a £50m campus on the former Ashington Hospital site, which had secured regional LSC approval and outline planning permission.

Today, an announcement is being made which confirms the college has been successful in securing a £225,000 Renewal Grant from the Skills Funding Agency to spend on building work.

While the amount far from what college leaders had originally hoped for, they say it is a step in the right direction.

Vice principal Chris Todd said: “It was really disappointing when our funding was cut, but the college is in the process of pushing ahead with its investment plans over the coming years.

“We are going to add £450,000 of college funds to the Renewal Grant, which means we’ll be investing £675,000 in total.

“We are still developing our detailed plans, but these are exciting times. This is the beginning of something good.”