Campus plan gets the nod from DC (From Thurrock Gazette)
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Campus plan gets the nod from DC
3:30pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News
Protesters outside the council offices before the decision
A CONTROVERSIAL town-centre college development has been given the green light by planning officials.
The new £45million South Essex College campus, off Grays High Street, will feature two buildings complete with restaurants, shops, a library, workshops and health and advice centres.
It is expected the campus, which will create around 205 jobs, could bring £4.6million to the Thurrock economy.
Angry residents from Woodview, near where the current college campus is located, packed the public gallery of a Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation planning meeting to hear more about the plans.
Planning officer Kirsty Towler told the committee: “The new campus will be customer and community focused, integrating residents and students to provide a site which works for everyone.
“The design is inventive and distinct and will provide a clear identity for the college.
“It will provide long term benefits to the area.”
The four-storey west building will contain restaurants, a shop, an advice centre, presentation space as well as a library and study facilities, including a computer room.
Workshops and studios for students studying science, technology, media and creative arts will be in the three-storey east building, along with facilities for logistics, engineering and IT courses.
The development will include a 96-space car park.
The committee heard objections from Shaun Martin, who questioned the impact the development would have on public transport, traffic, parking and the environment.
He said: “Over 500 students will be arriving at peak times, which results in an extra 26 passengers per train.
“Currently 61 per cent of students at the Woodview campus arrive by car – if public transport is not suitable they will drive in and park on surrounding roads.”
However, speaking in favour of the plans, Mary Power said the new campus would be a flagship development for Thurrock.
