A major milestone has been reached as contracts are signed for the construction of a cutting-edge college campus at East Coast College’s Great Yarmouth Campus.
On Thursday, 1 May, the contract between Kier Construction and the Department for Education was signed, giving the go-ahead for the multi-million-pound Great Yarmouth campus redevelopment project, set to begin in May 2025.
East Coast College is one of 16 colleges across England benefitting from the government’s £1.5bn FE Capital Transformation Fund to transform its campus to create a modern, state-of-the-art college equipped with a mock hospital ward, digital suites, hair and beauty salon ran by the college’s students, new gym and sports facilities, a lecture hall, training kitchens and restaurants.
Designed with low-carbon operation at its core, the new campus will provide a sustainable and energy-efficient learning environment. It will also offer a range of modern amenities for staff, students, and the wider community to enjoy.
In addition to the upgraded facilities, the new site will enable the introduction of new courses for both 16-19-year-olds and adult learners, helping to meet the growing demand for education and address local skills gaps.
Paul Padda, Principal and Chief Executive Office at East Coast College, said: “We are delighted by the signing of this contract. This is a once in a generation opportunity to create an exciting and vibrant community asset. It will help thousands of students every year to study in the incredible new facilities on offer. “
Mark Dady, Managing Director, Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, said: “East Coast College is a landmark project due to the scale of teaching facilities on offer, and we look forward to continuing the great work that we have done to date with both the College and the Department for Education. Kier will use our extensive expertise in delivering first-class educational facilities to build a campus that will benefit the local community and support students to achieve their full potential, inspiring future generations.”
The project is scheduled to begin in May 2025, with construction expected to be completed by early summer 2028. Following the completion of the new campus, the demolition of the existing site is planned for autumn 2028.
The construction process will be documented on the college’s website: eastcoast.ac.uk.