Council approves £8.5m college expansion
NECAThe £8.5m expansion of an engineering school, which could treble pupil numbers, has been approved.
The proposals for Wallsend's Energy Academy, in North Tyneside, include a new education building and workshop facility.
Two existing structures will have to be demolished to make way for the new campus.
Labour-run North Tyneside Council approved the plans unanimously on Wednesday.
The school forms part of Newcastle College.
Council documents predicted pupil numbers could increase from about 340 to more than 1,200 over the next five years thanks to the expansion.
The proposed building would be 43.3ft (12.9m) in height, 283.1ft (86.3 m) long and 76.4ft (23.3m) in width, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
The plans received two objections about potential loss of light and a sense of overlooking.
Council officers acknowledged the concerns but concluded the site had significant existing landscaping to mitigate the worries.
A spokesperson from the North East Combined Authority, which last year approved an £8.48m investment for the expansion of Newcastle College Energy Academy, said the project would help support ambitions to create 25,000 more green jobs in the North East.
