PLANS for a vocational training college at a Southend school have won the backing of councillors.

The new two-storey building at Futures Community College will cater for around 680 pupils and students studying GCSEs and post-16 courses.

The application includes sports pitches, recreational space, and car parking.

The upper college building will house vocational training, general and specialist teaching areas, with a path linking it to the existing buildings on the site which will form the lower college for younger pupils.

The new building, built in partnership with vocational course provider Prospects, will also have facilities for seminars attended by business and industry leaders.

Members agreed to delegate an officer to grant permission when further submissions are received, including a travel plan, and the Environment Agency has had its say on the plans.

  • PROSPECTS and Futures Community College have welcomed a Government report saying apprentiseships are a good way to raise skills levels.

The Government wants one in five 16 to 18 year olds to take up apprenticeships over the next five years ahead of the London Olympics in 2012.