College of the future

9:36am Wednesday 9th July 2008

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A MULTI-MILLION pound college redevelopment plan which will help breathe new life into a town centre has been given the go-ahead, News Shopper can exclusively reveal.

Orpington College has secured funding for improvements costing £26m, including the demolition of decades-old temporary buildings and the construction of a new hi-tech five-storey block in their place.

The college will also revamp its landmark 11-storey tower block overlooking Orpington town centre with a newly designed reception and refectory for students , which will boast the latest in quality, environmentally friendly design.

The college's sports hall will also benefit from a new roof and other major improvements.

The bulk of the cash has come from the Government's Learning and Skills Council (LSC), with the remainder - around £1m - coming from a bank loan.

The project is a revision of an earlier £21m scheme submitted to the LSC and put together not long after the college gained planning permission for the improvements in 2005.

Jubilant college principal Simon Norton said the new plans were bigger and better than the originals.

He said: "We've had students learning in cramped conditions and some of these buildings haven't changed in the past 30 years.

"We're replacing them with high quality new facilities and we're very excited about the work.

"The extra cash has gone on better design and overall quality of the work we're doing."

Mr Norton explained the college redevelopment should help revitalise the town centre.

He said: "This is good inward investment for Orpington. The town can be seen as somewhat tired and run-down and initiatives like this can only be a good thing.

"This is a big facility for our students and adult learners and we've also got great links with local schools.

"As with any big construction project, there will be a certain amount of disruption but we are confident we will keep this to a minimum and manage any tensions.

"It's £26m being spent right in the heart of Orpington. There's huge benefits both for our students and for the town as a whole and we're already getting a great reaction as word starts to get out."

Building starts in the middle of this month and the work is expected to be completed by spring 2010.

Orpington MP John Horam says the college's redevelopment is long overdue.

The Conservative MP said: "It's good news because it will mean better quality buildings for the college which will help the image of Orpington High Street.

"The students will be better housed with better facilities on site. This is long overdue for Orpington."

The college is also set to merge with Bromley College of Further and Higher Education as part of a larger £50m project.

Most of the funding for the merger again comes from a Government grant with the remainder borrowed.

The new college will cater for up to 12,000 students over the age of 16, including 3,500 studying full time.