Member Article

Work begins on phase one of £11m Ashford College project

BAM Construction in the South East has been appointed to start the enabling works on what will be a £11m contract to build a new build college in Ashford.

The redevelopment, which was granted planning permission in April, involves construction of a General Teaching Block containing a refectory, labs, hair & beauty salon, art & media studio. This will include a link to a potential future phase of a ‘Construction and Technology Block’.

The campus will be located in the town centre close to the main rail station and good bus links. It will replace the existing facilities located a mile from the town centre, with an improved learning environment to support more than 700 students.

The college will focus on providing skills for the manufacturing, construction and service sectors, with a mix of further education and higher education courses, apprenticeships and skill-based courses.

In April, Ashford Borough Council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson told Kent Online: “This is excellent news and means at long last we can realise our vision for a further and higher education college right in the heart of the town at Elwick Road, adjacent to the International Station. This will greatly assist in the plans to rejuvenate the town centre.

“A highly skilled local workforce is vital for the success of our versatile economic growth in Ashford.

“The college will help put Ashford on the map, which is why we recently agreed to provide funding support, and we are very much looking forward to seeing it.”

Demolition has commenced and works complete in October 2016.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .