Demolition work finished at Carlisle College

The £9m redevelopment of the Cumbrian college is well underway with the steel frame of a new building expected to be constructed in December.

The tallest part of the college, the four-storey block B, was demolished following demolition of block C of Carlisle College in the summer of this year, which stands close to Strand Road.

In a statement, the college said: "The demolition is complete. The foundation pilings are in place and the remaining foundations are being excavated. The foundations and floor slab will be in place in the next two weeks. After that the frame will go up very quickly."

Kier Construction is the main contractor building the new teaching facility at the college.

The new building will be built on the same site block B occupied and add to the refurbished areas within block A, the frontage leading on to Victoria Place, which involved a library and learning resource centre being created.

The rebuild will include classrooms, hair and beauty salons, retail facilities and a restaurant.

The main entrance and reception to the college will move into a new glass atrium space linking the Victoria Place wing to the new building.

The North West Development Agency, which put forward around £5m, is mainly funding the scheme with Cumbria County Council, supporting the project with £3m, also contributing towards the redevelopment.

In September, the college secured a £1m enhanced renewal grant from the government as part of a £50m renovation fund aimed at 149 colleges across England.