Lambeth College is “going all guns blazing”, says local MP Chuka Umunna, as next phase of work begins at Clapham Campus.
Shadow Business Secretary and Labour MP for Streatham, Chuka Umunna joined local councillors, project managers, college staff, governors and students this afternoon to celebrate the start of new building work.
Phase Two of the college expansion project begins on October 13, and will continue for 50 weeks, according to contractors, Graham Construction.
Additional classrooms will be built, as well as a sports hall, gym and a nursery.
Local MP, Chuka Ummuna said: “We have got to ensure that there are good routes to technical and vocational qualifications.
“We have got to make sure a skills-eco-system exists so that we can provide the skills that companies need,” he continued.
“The work that Mark and the staff do here is very sacred. You are changing people’s lives.
“The college is a much better place now – it’s going guns blazing and we’ve got to make sure that this continues.”
Lambeth College Principal and Chief Executive, Mark Silverman said: “Over the last couple of years the college has been on a journey of improvement and a key part of that has been about us becoming a careers college.
“Today we are breaking the found for the next important phase of redevelopment which will see us complete a new building to house a sport and fitness centre, a new nursery programme for health care and Early Years and ESOL [English for Speakers of Other Languages] – English and Maths.”
When asked about opposition to the sell off of the Brixton Centre – which was undertaken to fund the current expansion, Mr Silverman said: “The old Brixton site was extremely tired and unfit for purpose.
“By disposing of some of the site to the Department for Education we have secured a brand new building at the front of Brixton Hill that will be completed by 2017.
“The Department for Education are planning to build a modern education campus for Brixton which will have two schools.”
