Building work progressing well on cornerstone of town regeneration

A major regeneration project in South Shields town centre is progressing well, a senior council officer has said.

- by Chris Binding

Work officially started on relocating South Tyneside College to South Shields town centre earlier this year.

The project was debated at the recent meeting of South Tyneside Council's Riverside Community Area Forum (CAF) during an update from the council's head of operations Andrew Whittaker.

The update touched on the multi-million pound development paving the way for the relocation of South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School.

The scheme will see the college move from its current Westoe site to the heart of South Shields town centre, with a new 15,000 sqm campus.

The project is a partnership between Tyne Coast College and South Tyneside Council, with Hebburn-based construction company Castle delivering it.

The £95million development will see the construction of the new campus, as well as a student accommodation block overlooking the River Tyne, and the refurbishment of a listed building to provide offices and staff facilities.

Plans include the main campus building accessed via King Street, with a double-height glass atrium behind the reception entrance, along with a second entrance provided along Barrington Street.