A MULTI-million pound investment in the future of Suffolk College has moved a step closer to reality today. Business plans for an innovative £50m scheme to provide new buildings and facilities for the College were approved by the College's Corporation at a meeting held on Thursday, October 21.

A MULTI-million pound investment in the future of Suffolk College has moved a step closer to reality today.

Business plans for an innovative £50m scheme to provide new buildings and facilities for the College were approved by the College's Corporation at a meeting held on Thursday, October 21.

The new buildings and facilities will be located on and around the current Suffolk College site in the proposed education quarter of Ipswich.

It is anticipated that the first students will move into the new buildings during 2007.

The development will be integrated with the creation of University Campus Suffolk to provide seamless progression opportunities from further education and vocational training to university level education.

College principal professor Dave Müller, said: "New buildings and facilities for Suffolk College are needed to meet increasing demand for vocational education and training and the continuing growth in students wishing to study further education."

Andrew Shelley, Chair of the College Corporation, said, "This exciting and imaginative development will provide resources fit for the 21st Century.

"The College will invest its own resources in the development and will seek support from the Learning and Skills Council and other partners.

"It is an exciting development designed to support the economic, social and cultural development of Ipswich, Suffolk and the wider eastern region."

The plans will now be presented to the Suffolk Learning and Skills Council for approval on November 17, before being submitted to the National Learning and Skills Council for consideration early next year.