An £8million investment in an outdated north-east college campus has been revealed amid hopes of transforming the site into a powerhouse of learning for the energy sector.
Bosses at North East Scotland College (NESCol) announced plans to upgrade its Fraserburgh campus last night after winning planning permission for a major expansion and refurbishment project.
The overhaul, which is set to start before summer, will expand teaching space at the campus by 20,000 square feet and will expand and upgrade the engineering and construction departments.
Students will also get to study science at the college for the very first time with a new laboratory to be built.
It is hoped that the investment in science and engineering will boost the existing oil and gas industries in the north-east and kick-start the renewables sector.
Revealing the plans yesterday, college principal, Rob Wallen said the scheme will help meet the needs of modern students.
He said: “The existing accommodation for technology subjects was built in the 1970s and does not reflect the demands of today’s curriculum.
“By extending the current facilities we will not only increase accommodation, but create more flexible teaching spaces. It will also allow us to introduce additional study options including science – which is a first for this campus.”
The investment follows the merger of Banff and Buchan College with Aberdeen College to form NESCol in 2013.
Fraserburgh councillor Ian Tait, who opposed the merger, described the news as “marvellous”.
He said: “It will be a marvellous thing if we are going to get £8million.
“It’s great news, but I see it as a reaction to the tremendous opposition that was put up against the merger. They now have to justify that merger and they’re doing it in this way.”
Banff and Buchan MP Eildih Whiteford added: “This is a significant investment in the college sector and will be an invaluable resource for the north-east in developing skills and producing skilled young people for the local economy.
“It is good news for the college sector and fantastic news for Fraserburgh, and Banff and Buchan more widely.”
NESCol is now one of Scotland’s largest colleges of further and higher education with around 7,500 full-time students and 20,000 part-time students.