Construction has officially begun on Northumberland College's £52 million Ashington Campus, set to transform education and skills training in the region.

The project has received full approval from the Department for Education (DfE), paving the way for the development of state-of-the-art academic and technical facilities designed to meet industry and regional skills priorities.

The new campus, led by Education Partnership North East and Northumberland College, will be built on a 5.7-acre site at Advance Northumberland's Wansbeck Park. The campus is part of a government-led initiative to create modern educational spaces with advanced design standards, net-zero sustainability, and cutting-edge concepts at the heart of its construction and operation.

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Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed as the design and build contractor for the project under the DfE's framework.

The campus will feature three distinct buildings, including an Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, and Construction Skills Centre; a central academic and technical hub for further and higher education, which will also include a dedicated space for young people with special educational needs and disabilities; and a Student Life Centre to support student well-being and engagement.

Additional facilities will include industry-standard workshops, specialist labs, immersive learning environments, and dedicated spaces for catering and dining. The campus will also boast a large theatre with auditorium seating, as well as services for employment, careers, financial support, welfare, and study assistance.

Due to open in 2026, the Ashington Campus is expected to bring significant educational and economic benefits to Northumberland and the wider region. Plans for the campus were presented to Northumberland County Council's Strategic Planning Committee in June 2024 and were unanimously approved, marking a key milestone for the project.