Moves to provide hundreds of training posts and jobs in South Hampshire took a major step forward on as plans to build a £12m college facility and improved road links at the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus were given the green light by planning councillors.

Fareham Borough Council has approved Fareham College’s planning application for a new Centre of Excellence for Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Training to be based at the entrance to the Enterprise Zone.

Partners welcomed the decision as 'a huge boost' for the Solent Enterprise Zone.

Gary Jeffries, director of Solent LEP, which is responsible for delivering the Enterprise Zone, said: "This is great news for young people in Gosport and Fareham and for businesses, the community and the local economy as a whole. By the summer, work will start on both a new main gateway to the Enterprise Zone and on the new centre, and it’s exciting to think that in just over a year, the new centre will be up and running and welcoming students. It is a huge boost for the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus as a hub for marine and aerospace engineering and manufacturing businesses."

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Providing courses for around 900 students per year, the state-of-the-art facility will meet a vital training need for local employers on the Enterprise Zone and across Fareham and Gosport.

The flagship centre is expected to create and safeguard 135 temporary jobs during construction, which is due to start in the summer, and a further 150 permanent jobs on site when it opens in September 2014.

As well as approving plans for the college building, councillors gave proposals for a new access point to the Enterprise Zone the go-ahead. The new access point will add a fourth arm to the junction of Broom Way and Cherque Way, and provide much improved access to the Enterprise Zone to support both existing businesses at Daedalus and those locating on the Zone in the future.

Peter Marsh, Deputy Principal of Fareham College, said: "This exciting purpose-built centre will support the training of skilled engineers and help boost the local economy. With an impressive glazed frontage, a dynamic floating roof and the use of zinc and metallic cladding the design reflects the engineering focus of the Enterprise Zone; we are delighted that our plans have been approved."

Kevin Bourner, HCA Head of Area, said: "The new access will support the training centre and development across the entire site. Today’s decision enables us to take real action on the ground that will, as part of the long-term development of the Enterprise Zone, bring more jobs, opportunities and investment to the area and provide a significant boost to the local economy."

(CD/MH)