Shrewsbury College unveils £6m upgrade to campus

Up to £6 million is to be spent redeveloping the main campus of a college in Shropshire after bosses secured Government funding.

The Government has confirmed Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology will be awarded £2 million towards the plans for the London Road site.

The funding will be added to £4 million provided by the college for the plans which will see the main building on the campus extended.

College bosses today said the extension would mean additional catering services provided for students and improvements made for business, education, and counselling services as well as additional classrooms.

The further education college has more than 10,000 students throughout the county at its main campus and satellite centres in Telford, Shrewsbury and Church Stretton.

A start date for the work is yet to be decided.

Principal Greg Molan said: "We are very excited at the prospect of these new developments. The funding allows us to extend the main college building and complete the recently developed engineering and construction centre, directly benefiting our electrical, plumbing and gas students.

"We will also enhance facilities for students with disabilities and continue to upgrade the London Road campus."

More than 125 applications were submitted to the Government by colleges throughout the UK, with Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology named as one of just 46 successful bids.

Geoff Russell, the chief executive of the Government's Skills Funding Agency, said: "The standard of bids received was extremely high and we are pleased that some of the most innovative projects have been chosen."

The college recently ploughed £3 million into upgrading its London Road campus, including the refurbishment of the engineering and construction centre, which is due to be unveiled on February 8.