The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced its intention to sell its construction college at Bircham Newton in Norfolk to West Suffolk College.

This announcement has sparked some concern in the local area, with union Unite calling for more details on the plans.

It follows on from news in 2017 that the CITB was moving its headquarters from Bircham Newton and would no longer be supplying bespoke training to the construction industry.

Calling for clarity on behalf of CITB workers, Unite regional co-ordinating officer Mark Robinson said: "This is far from the end of this long running saga and a lot more detail is required before Unite is able to say whether the planned deal is good news for our members.


"Unite is now seeking answers to questions concerning whether all the existing courses currently undertaken at the national construction college will continue to operate, or whether elements of the training will transfer to the West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds.

"It also needs to be established if West Suffolk College will purchase the site or rent it, and, if the latter, for how long such an arrangement will last.

"Our members need to be given a proper timetable of how quickly a sale and transfer will proceed. Their lives have been put on hold for two and half years while this sorry saga has rolled along and they deserve closure and certainty about their future.

"Unite will now be seeking urgent meetings with both the CITB and West Suffolk College to get the answers are members deserve."

(CM/JG)