Work now under way at Stourbridge King Edward VI College
Work has got under way on a £1.3 million expansion of a sixth form college in Stourbridge with the new development starting to take shape.
King Edward VI College is building a two-storey maths centre on the site of the former De Saulles factory, in St John's Road. The teaching block will consist of seven classrooms, toilets, a reception area and a staff room and will cater for the 500 students who study the subject every year. Contractors have been on site since the beginning of the month.
Director of Admissions & Learning Support Peter Gray said the steel structure was in place along with the first few courses of blockwork.
He said work was on target and staff were looking forward to teaching in the new classrooms in September.
The project is being funded by the college, based in Lower High Street, with the help of a Government grant of around £675,000.
All classrooms in the block would have hi-tech facilities including interactive whiteboards and wi-fi for students.
The plans were approved by Dudley Council last month, despite concerns being raised by neighbours who feared properties could be overlooked.
They said they would prefer a single-storey building, but the plan was recommended for approval by planning officers because they said it "would not adversely affect" residential properties.
Councillors approved the application saying while they accepted sunlight could be lost at sunrise, this effect would already be felt because of the old De Saulles building. Councillor Colin Wilson described the development as being "very apt" for that part of the town.
