THE UK’s leading college of advanced technology is set to expand its Basildon base.

Prospects College of Advanced Technology (PROCAT), which has campuses in Luckyn Lane, Basildon and Meppel Avenue, Canvey, is hoping to expand the Basildon campus with new buildings and student accommodation on a proposed new retail area.

Last week, the Echo revealed that budget giant Aldi could open its first Basildon store as bosses eye up open space in a proposed new block of stores opposite Pipps Hill retail park.

The plans for five new stores will be built at Gilbarco Veeder Root’s base on the corner of Luckyn Lane and Miles Gray Road if it is granted planning permission at a meeting tonight.

And on the same site there will be space for new college buildings with student accommodation opposite the existing campus in Luckyn Lane.

Very little information about the new college buildings has been provided at this stage by Gilbarco Veeder Root, who submitted the planning application, but the college has made it clear that it has “aspirations to expand its campus, but is currently limited by the confines of its existing site”.

Allan Davies, ward councillor for the area, said: “I would say it is great news for the area. They have had a very successful period as a technical college offering apprenticeships.

“It is good news for Basildon, and the whole borough, the college attracts students from all over. It is good news for the economy, and good news for the young people who want to use apprenticeships as a way to start employment, which has been pushed nationally.”

Leading the way in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, PROCAT is a specialist college which has been established to provide advanced apprenticeships to secure a pipeline of new talent, higher and degree apprenticeships to support advanced engineering capability.

The re-development of the existing site has already created centres of excellence, and the addition of student accommodation would allow them to attract pupils from further afield, giving them the opportunity to live on-site.