Miller Construction has started work on the new £44 million Motherwell College, Lanarkshire, adding to its impressive education portfolio.

The new campus will be located at Ravenscraig, making it the first major development on the former steelworks site in the heart of North Lanarkshire.

Vic Richardson, Regional Director, Miller Construction, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to build the new Motherwell College, a 21st century learning environment which will set the highest standards in further education.

The campus, which comprises of four buildings, will replace the existing 40-year-old college buildings with a state-of-the-art learning environment. The main teaching block will span some 16,000 sq m over five storeys - incorporated into the design are conference facilities, a public learning centre, a training restaurant and bar, performing arts space, job shop, and a plaza which will provide social space.

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The new campus will also feature a 6,590 sq m two storey workshop block dedicated to practical disciplines including automotive studies and engineering; and a 1,890sqm nursery providing 300 nursery places for pre-school children and after school care.

Student accommodation will also be provided in a seven-storey hall of residence building, which is cylindrically designed to echo the iconic towers that dominated the skyline at Ravenscraig in its heyday.

Motherwell College Chairman Ian Watson, said: "After a huge amount of planning, the start on-site is highly symbolic as we officially recognise the beginning of the new college campus."

The official start on site was marked by a ground breaking ceremony which was attended by Motherwell College Chairman, Principal and students; Chair of Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding (SFC), Provost for North Lanarkshire Council and the MP and MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw.

The new Motherwell College campus is set to open in August 2009.

(NS/JM)