Future of college secured after funding package agreed

The National Construction College (NCC) has won £17m in capital funding to secure its future.

The funding will come from the Learning and Skills council (LSC) and the new package is drawn from the National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) capital funding model for the vital improvements to the college’s infrastructure.

The NCC must also contribute £4.3m, which it will try and secure though a new planning application for 24 homes on part of its site.

A decision on this is expected during November.

The lifeline comes after months of discussions about a package to help the UK’s largest provider of specialist construction training undertake essential redevelopment work to its main campus in Bircham Newton, Norfolk.

Skills minister David Lammy, said: "We are amidst the busiest building programme in the UK since the war so I am extremely pleased that we have been able to confirm this support for a college that makes such a vital contribution to the construction industry."

The college must now meet all expectations for the funding package before submitting a planning application and confirmation of costs through a formal tendering process.