A brand new vocational training centre, estimated at costing £11.5m, is to be built in Basildon.

The centre, to be run run by Prospects College, will be built on an old factory site just off Luckyn Lane. It is thought up to 50 new jobs will be created and provide five times that many apprenticeship places in the construction industry.

It will also run courses anything up to 500 students, who will seek further education and train to become architects, draughtsmen and the like. It will be paid for by jointly by the Housing and Communities Agency, the Learning and Skills Council and from Prospects College’s own funds