Construction College development plans rejected again

The National Construction College (NCC) East will not be able to refurbish an ageing swimming pool at its Bircham Newton base, after the Planning Inspectorate this week refused an appeal to build 24 homes on the site .

The housing development was part of the NCC's plans to raise cash to revamp the Norfolk training facility.

NCC was required to raise a 20% share of the £25m it wanted, in order to unlock the remaining 80% from the Learning and Skills Council.

But the Planning Inspectorate's decision to reject the planning appeal means that NCC East has been forced to rethink the scope of its plans.

It will still redevelop training and welfare facilities and accommodations blocks, and construction of shopes and leisure facilities will go ahead, but plans to replace an ageing swimming pool at the site have been dropped.

David Boyden, director of the National Construction College, said: "The NCC East has operated for over 40 years at the Norfolk site, which serves 5,000 learners a year. The redevelopment is essential to help meet the demand for specialist construction workers and to allow the College to provide additional places for apprentices and adult learners. Although this news is disappointing, we will revise our plans accordingly and move ahead, on schedule."