A DERELICT college site has finally been sold in a deal which will help fuel a £23million higher education investment project in south Essex.

The former Prospects College site, in Fairfax Drive, Southend, which has been at the heart of plans for a new Southend United stadium for more than a decade, has finally been sold to developers, Weston Homes.

Prospects would not reveal how much the sale made, but did confirm it was about £3million.

This announcement brings to an end years of negotiations with Sainsbury’s, which was set to buy the site in order to use it for access to a new superstore it planned at Roots Hall, came to nothing. and exasperated Prospects chief executive Neil Bates finally sought an alternative buyer.

Announcing the sale yesterday, a jubilant Mr Bates, who heads up the now Basildon-based college, said it brought an end to “12 years of frustration”. And he quickly revealed the money from the sale would go towards plans for a £23million higher education project in Basildon which would offer degree level vocational apprenticeships.

He said: “We went into a contract with Weston Homes about three months ago but were not in a position to announce anything until the contract was completed, particularly given our previous experience.

“I’m delighted that we have now completed.”

Mr Bates felt the landmark deal could transform education in Basildon and beyond - and would act as an extension to the Procat College in Luckyn Lane, Basildon, which was established by Prospects last year.

The £2million advanced engineering centre offers electronics, automation, aviation, railway and mechanical engineering training.

He said: “We are now looking to acquire another site in Basildon for the development of a national higher education centre and following the sale we will make further investment into a centre in Basildon.

“We have a major campus there and are are hoping to further develop it. “It will offer the opportunities for foundation to degree level. “We want to provide work-related apprenticeships which offer advanced, higher and degree level apprenticeships.

“It’s all part of trying to give opportunities to young people who don’t go down the academic route to a degree.”

And Mr Bates also revealed young people will be able to earn while they study for degrees.

He added: “We offer advanced apprenticeships in engineering and construction. “It’s really taking off. “We have a big programme, including railway engineering with companies like Bombardier involved. “We already have students coming from Scotland and Manchester so we are becoming a national college. “There is a renewed interest in apprenticeships and the opportunities that come from that for young people who haven’t done so well at school.”

Bob Weston, chairman and founder of Weston Homes, added: “ We are now working closely with Ron Martin on the comprehensive redevelopment of the site.”

College sale won't affect new stadium plans

THE sale of the former Prospects College is unlikely to have any impact on plans for a new 21,000-seater Blues stadium.

In January, club chairman Ron Martin signed a deal with real estate firm British Land to fund the first phase of the Shrimpers’ proposed new stadium at Fossetts Farm, in Eastern Avenue, Southend, which includes a retail and residential complex.

Yesterday Mr Martin told the Echo: “The club is aware that the Prospects College site has been sold and negotiations surrounding the purchase were conducted with the club’s knowledge.

“It remains the intention that the site will form an integral part of the comprehensive development of Roots Hall, as has always been proposed, under the now advanced relocation plans.”

Blues fans called for an update on the stadium plans which were unveiled a year ago.

Jamie Forsyth, co-editor of All At Sea fanzine, said: “Fans have been told that the Prospects site is no longer of strategic importance for the plans to redevelop Roots Hall and so it’s not a big surprise that Prospects have found another buyer. If the club are true to their word, it should not impact on the plans for a new stadium at Fossetts Farm. However, it is now almost a year since the exhibition of the new plans for Fossetts Farm and yet still no full planning application has been submitted to the council.”

Southend Council earmarked the dilapidated Roots Hall site for 290 homes after losing faith in Sainsbury’s building a superstore there. The football stadium and its surrounding land has been listed as an “opportunity site” for housing.