Tresham

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Tresham's New Corby Campus

08 Feb 2010

Phil Hope MP for Corby and East Northants and Minister for the East Midlands cut the first sod at a ceremony to launch Tresham College of Further and Higher Education's brand new £36 million campus in Corby at Oakley Road, Corby, NN18 8AN on Friday 5^th February 2010.

The new campus goes ahead with funding support provided by the Learning and Skills Council, the Homes and Communities Agency (relating to the sale of the existing George Street campus), Barclays Bank as well as using Tresham's own resources. Tresham was named as only one of 12 colleges throughout the UK to have been awarded funding for its new buildings after the LSC reviewed its funding allocations in 2009.

Tresham's construction partners are BAM Construction, which is experienced in developing educational sites and will ensure that the building process is carried out effectively.

The new building has been designed by Bond Bryan to compliment Tresham's long history of providing high quality courses, along with enhanced IT provision, and to introduce a number of other course areas into the town including Sport, Health Care and Child Education, Business and Uniformed Public Services as well as an increase in its Higher Education offer.

Tresham has worked closely with current staff and students at the college as well as holding consultations with the local communities around the current Corby campus and the new site which was formerly used by Corby Community College.

Principal Mark Silverman said:

"This will be a very important day for the development of Tresham and our commitment to providing high quality learner experiences at each of our campuses and on every course. Following our good Ofsted report we strive to be an outstanding provider for education in the area and this new campus in Corby, which will compliment our Kettering campus which was opened in 2007, is our next step in a very important journey forward."

Simon Evans, Chief Executive of North Northants Development Company, said:

"This project has made excellent progress and soon local people will be able to see for themselves another major new building taking shape in Corby, hot on the heels of the new pool and Corby Cube.

In common with the Corby Business Academy, Tresham's new campus represents a significant investment in local education and skills development and, aided by the neighbouring train station, it will make the Cottingham Road area an increasingly vibrant part of the town centre."

Phil Hope MP said:

"Our positive drive toward growth has given us new children's centres, improved junior schools and two new modern secondary schools in the town.

"The college is the icing on the cake! The new campus will raise aspirations and encourage more Corby young people to continue in further and higher education.

"The timing couldn't be better - bringing new jobs and apprenticeships; to local people. The location of the new campus will be a significant next step in the development of the wider town centre regeneration."

Margaret Allen, regional director for the HCA East Midlands, said:

"Today marks an important milestone in the continued regeneration of Corby and we look forward to seeing the new campus develop. To facilitate this move the HCA has stepped in to acquire the current George Street site, which will help complete the town centre Parkland Gateway project, whilst enabling the college to remain at the current site for a nominal rent until the new campus is completed."