BUILDING work on a £21 million business school at Essex University has begun.

Preparation work for the Essex Business School, part of the 42-acre Knowledge Gateway research park, was kicked off on Wednesday morning.

However, there remains no starting date for construction of the development’s centrepiece, the Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution designed by world-famous architect and university alumnus Daniel Libeskind.

Building work has already begun on the first part of the development - The £22 million Meadows student housing campus with 650 bedrooms - which is due to be completed by August this year.

University bosses are also finalising a funding agreement for a £2.4 million loan from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership to build the Parkside Office Village.

See Thursday's Gazette for the full story