New £54m Northumberland College campus in Ashington will transform area, college boss says

A planning application for the new Northumberland College campus in Wansbeck Business Park was approved by councillors earlier this month.

The £54m project will be one of the first ‘GenZero’ further education sites in the UK, meaning it will meet a new low carbon design standard developed by the Department for Education and Innovate UK.

It will support up to 3,075 learners, an increase from the current Ashington campus’ capacity of 1,873, and the equivalent of 174 full time staff members.

Ellen Thinnesen, chief executive of Northumberland College’s parent organisation Education Partnership North East, believes the campus represents a “transformative investment” in Ashington, and the county.

She said: “Our new Ashington Campus will be an inspirational centre for learning and will play an important role in the UK’s net zero ambitions, and the government’s prioritisation of further education and skills aligned to local, regional, and UK economy.

“More specifically, this investment will hugely benefit Ashington. Once the college is built we will relocate thousands of college students and staff from our current campus to our new facilities, significantly increasing footfall into the town.

“This will undoubtedly support local business and wider economic development.”

The new site will feature three teaching buildings and new sports facilities. One block will be dedicated to an advanced manufacturing, engineering and construction skills centre with another containing a range of other academic and technical facilities.

There will also be a bespoke centre for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.