£18m funding boost for South Tyneside College relocation
The college and the South Shields Marine School are being moved into the town centre, with Castle appointed to build the 160,000 sq ft building in a move that will increase footfall to the coastal town.
Now, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Combined Authority have agreed to award up to £18.2m towards the relocation of the two schools.
Currently located in Westoe, the new campus will be close to South Shields Interchange.
The funding is coming from the Early Capital and Investment Fund and will enable a start on site later this year.
Planning permission has been granted for the main building, a student accommodation block, and the refurbishment of a listed building on Barrington Street.
The main building will be accessed on King Street, with a double-height glass atrium behind the reception entrance.
A second entrance will be provided along Barrington Street, linking the building to the main campus, and a refurbished grade two-listed building will accommodate staff facilities, bringing a vacant building back into use.
The NECA funding is in addition to £20m of government regeneration funding awarded to South Tyneside Council to revitalise South Shields town centre and riverside, and £21.9m to Tyne Coast College from the Department for Education’s FE Capital Transformation Fund.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “Bringing South Tyneside College and the world-renowned Marine School to the town centre will transform South Shields and be a catalyst for new investment, new business and new jobs in and around King Street.
“That’s why we have agreed £18.2m for a state-of-the art new campus which will be a cornerstone for South Shields town centre for decades to come, attracting students from across the North East and the world.
“This project has been talked about for years and the site on King Street is ready to go. We are making it happen, so we can get on with the job of bringing new life to our town centres and high streets.”
Cllr Tracey Dixon, leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “This is the final piece of the funding jigsaw, which means the next step will be work getting underway.
“Our regeneration ambitions are focused on diversifying the town centre so that it is not solely reliant on retail.”
