John Laing and Gladedale to develop college facilities and housing on East Susses site

John Laing and residential partner Gladedale have sealed the deal on a £75m college scheme in East Sussex.

The project for Hastings College will include facilities for up to 2500 students, plus housing, healthcare, parking and a business and technology centre.

The development, which is funded by the Learning Skills Council, will be spread over two sites, Station Plaza in Hastings and Ore Valley, Rother.

John Laing and Gladedale have also purchased three other sites from the college, which will be turned into housing. Proceeds from the sale will go towards the construction of the new college buildings.

Jamie Kerr, John Laing Projects & Developments managing director, said: “We are delighted to be assisting with the regeneration of the wider area by transforming the estate of Hastings College and delivering a state-of-the-art facility.

“This is the first financial close reached in this new division of John Laing which is building up a significant portfolio of regeneration projects, centred around civic infrastructure.”

Sue Middlehurst, principal of Hastings College added, “These iconic and inspirational new college buildings will help to mark us out as a leading provider of post-16 education. We are looking forward to working with John Laing to make this vision a reality by 2009.”

John Laing’s construction partner, Laing O’Rourke, began work on the scheme in September and the college is expected to open by the end of 2009.