PLANNING consent for new Thurrock Campus means it is a step closer to transforming the fortunes of Grays town centre
South Essex College is pleased to announce that permission has been granted for its state of the art campus in the heart of Grays town centre.
As well as significantly increasing the quality of education provision available to Thurrock’s young people, the £45 million College has long been identified as a key element of the ambitious proposals to regenerate Grays. The construction of the College will deliver more than 2,000 students and staff into the heart of the town centre which it is hoped will provide a significant shot in the arm to local businesses.
John Hayles, Acting Principal and Chief Executive of South Essex College, said: “It is anticipated that the College will be a key economic driver for the local economy and its traders due to the power of the ‘student pound’. Grays High Street alone will see an increase of thousands of ‘extra feet on the street’ that will bring much welcomed benefits to local retailers.”
The close proximity of the bus and train stations will also help both students and staff opt for ‘greener’ transport.
John added: “We believe the young people of Thurrock deserve the best and that is what we are planning to deliver. Far from reducing courses the new Thurrock Campus will enhance and improve them, so there will be no loss or reduction of courses on offer.”
He continued: “For example, the new college building will have new and improved brick, engineering and carpentry workshops and will also be able to offer improved provision of courses to local employers.”
The new build will also be home to exciting new offers, such as a sustainable technologies centre, which will only enhance much needed employment opportunities in this emerging field.
The current Thurrock Campus of South Essex College, located at Woodview, was built and opened in 1960 as Thurrock Technical College.
Like many 1960’s education buildings it was a building of its time and built to a very different specification from today’s classroom needs and advances in technology.
The current buildings are inflexible; require significant maintenance, heating and repair and some workshops cannot be used all year round. This is something which the new building and workshops will address and provide both better facilities and a better skilled future local workforce.
