Plans for the £173m redevelopment of the student campus at City College in Norwich have been unveiled.

If approved, the proposals will see the current buildings demolished and replaced by a new college – providing places for up to 20,000 - by 2015.

The project will be completed in two phases. The first, which will begin in 2009, will see the current Sixth Form Centre and the halls of residence demolished and replaced by new buildings housing the School of Technology, the School of Creative Arts and the School of Hair, Beauty and Leisure Industries.

-- Advertisement --

In addition a new partly underground car park will be built at the back of the site and an energy centre to make the best use of "green technology", said a spokesman for the college.

In the second phase, from 2013, a new Hotel School will be built with a hotel and restaurant open to the public, together with a new building housing the School of Health, Social Care and Early Education.

The project will also include a theatre, swimming pool and gym, which will be open to the public.

Dick Palmer, principal of City College, said: "We want to create a world-class campus, one that inspires and motivates our students, one that the local community can look on with pride - a flagship for Norwich and Norfolk."

The college has moved to reassure local residents that disruption and noise over the next few years will be reduced as much as possible.

(NS/JM)