National Construction College faces uncertain future after planning defeat

The National Construction College (NCC) East faces an uncertain future this week after its owner, CITBConstructionSkills, lost its planning appeal against a local council to redevelop its site in Bircham Newton, Norfolk.

King's Lynn & West Norfolk Council threw out plans to sell off some of the land at the college's site early last year. The college was hoping to use the land sales to secure funding for improved facilities.

CITBConstructionSkills appealed against the decision in May. However, the rejection has now been upheld.

CITBConstructionSkills hoped that by selling off parts of the land it would be able to fund a state-of-the-art campus with new training and recreational facilities and accommodation.

“After exhausting all avenues available to attract the funding required, the college faces an uncertain future,” said CITBConstructionSkills in a statement.

Andy Walder of the NCC said: "This announcement puts the college in a very difficult position, and although it would be unfair to speculate too widely about its future before the next board meeting in February, closure of parts of the facility is now a real possibility.

“This may result in job losses, but it will take time before the college, ConstructionSkills and the industry, are in a position to arrive at a definite solution or give concrete answers.

"First we must consider all our options. The report does not reject the argument that development may be needed to continue to carry out college works.

“Therefore before we consider options such as scaling down our operations at NCC East, transferring to other sites, or even delivering training in a different way, we need to gain a full understanding of the report's recommendations."