THESE striking images are the first impressions of the £60million future of Suffolk College.

THESE striking images are the first impressions of the £60million future of Suffolk College.

Designed to replace the existing 40-year-old college, the new Suffolk College will comprise of three main buildings including a new 600 square metre sports hall.

Designs for the new college are due to be submitted for planning permission today and The Evening Star brings you the first pictures of the new buildings.

Suffolk College principal Dave Muller said: “I am delighted with the proposals. This is a terrific opportunity and superb investment in the future of education in Suffolk.”

Estimated to be built in 2007 and opened to Further Education (FE) students in September 2008, the development is costing around £57m.

Prof Muller said: “We will have a brand new FE college which will cover all our occupational and vocational courses as well as have facilities for the study of A-levels.

“We will also be able to enhance and expand out FE activities as we increase the student population.”

The new 21,400sqm college will be built at the northern section of the new Ipswich education quarter which will include the proposed University Campus Suffolk (UCS).

The new college will include a fine dining restaurant over looking Alexandra Park and glass walled workshops facing Rope Walk - enabling passers by to see students working inside.

There will also be a large college square close to the new three-storey atrium entrance.

John Norman, director of campus development, said there will also be parking for up to 250 cars on the campus.

He said: “It is one single project, one single phase, but technically three separate buildings. It will be an open campus with secure buildings.”

A four-storey building which will house hair and beauty salons, care education and public service lecture rooms, a sixth form academy and business, leisure and information technology classrooms will be linked to the three story main building by a elevated walkway.

The new designs will be on public display at Ipswich Corn Exchange on Monday. On May 17 at 6.30pm there will be an open forum at the college to discuss the plans with the public. For more information call Karen Kingham on 01473 343636.