North Kent College has been awarded £12.3m to build an "industry-leading" centre for performing and production digital arts.

The new training facilities will be opened at the Dartford campus in Oakfield Lane.

The college says it will enable it to maintain and develop its established strengths in performing arts and digital design, respond to growing student demand and contribute to the long-term growth of the creative and cultural sector.

A two-storey building will contain 2,836 sq m of floorspace, including a performance venue, dance studios, music performance spaces, digital design classrooms and workshops.

College chief executive and executive principal David Gleed said: “We are delighted to receive funding for this vital project which will further enhance the outstanding arts offer that North Kent College provides.

“With the arts as a key focus for both Kent and the Thames Gateway, this development ensures we remain at the forefront of education and training to produce the very best future arts professionals.

“We are particularly grateful to both SELEP (The South East Local Enterprise Partnership) and Cllr Roger Gough and his KCC (Kent County Council) colleagues for their continued support and backing."

The funding has come from the government’s Getting Building Fund (GBF), which is overseen in this area by (SELEP) and

Willmott Dixon Construction has already started work.

Director Adam Worrall said: “We are delighted to be working with North Kent College to deliver this first-class centre of education for the arts that will offer students the opportunity to develop for years to come.”

Kent County Council leader Cllr Roger Gough said: “Funding for these projects had been ring-fenced for some time and I am delighted that, after due diligence, they have been approved by SELEP.

“KCC officers have been heavily involved in assisting the various applicants to put together their business case and I am delighted that their efforts have resulted in the grants being confirmed.

'This performing and production digital arts centre will create a hub for this vital industry in the heart of the South East...'

“These projects will help the Kent economy recover as we try to deal with the ongoing effects of the pandemic.”

SELEP chairman Christian Brodie added: “This is a fantastic scheme.

"This performing and production digital arts centre will create a hub for this vital industry in the heart of the South East and is being developed in response to growing student demand.

“Expansion of the Dartford campus will benefit not only North Kent College’s creative students, but the student body as a whole, and the surrounding area thanks to the creation of more than 100 new jobs.”

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