SEEVIC

SEEVIC College is leading the development of a new skills campus planned to be built on Canvey Island. The construction is due to start in July 2010 and the centre is planning to open its doors to students in the academic year of 2011.

The local community are invited to view the proposed plans for the new learning establishment. A public display will be available at The Canvey Island Regeneration Shop located in the Knightswick Centre on Canvey Island.

The shop is open for viewing Wednesdays to Fridays 10am-4pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm. Representatives from the architects team will be available to answer questions about the plans on Friday 11 December from 1.30pm-3pm and Wednesday 16 December from 1.30pm-3pm.

The community’s involvement in this project is key, so we are also offering residents and stakeholders the opportunity to view and comment on a selection of logos that have been created for the campus.

It is proposed to build a state of the art skills campus next to the current Castle View School site. The site will be 2500 square metres and will be able to accommodate 348 learners. The campus will include learning for 14-16 year olds, 16-19 year olds as well as adults and community learning. The curriculum has been developed by a group consisting of a variety of Canvey based organisations.

The current design proposals show a unique hexagon shaped centre as the main feature of the building, accompanied by teaching and learning areas positioned on each side of the building.

The campus will offer training in motor vehicle engineering, construction, health & social care, sport & leisure and hospitality & catering. It is planned that the campus will have up-to-date and sophisticated equipment and facilities for these specialist subject areas including a repairs workshop, brickwork and masonry workshop area and a working kitchen.

The campus will also be available for community use.

The planning application for the proposed skills campus will be submitted to Castle Point Borough Council on 18 December 2009.

The majority of the project funding is at present coming from Essex County Council with the support from The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and SEEVIC College. The current project value is £7.5 million.

Cllr Stephen Castle, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education said: “This is the first chance for residents of Canvey to see what the new vocational centre could look like and what opportunities are on offer for those wishing to further their education. This is a great asset for Canvey, recognising the need to provide a varied curriculum to students of all ages.”