THE first part of Colchester Institute’s revamp has been unveiled.

The £3.3 million reception, at the Colchester campus, in Sheepen Road, and several offices above it, have been finished.

The site is undergoing extensive refurbishment, with a new four-storey teaching block, costing £9.5 million, expected to be finished in September.

It will feature eight workshops, a creative studio and classrooms, a cafe and library.

Five years ago, the former Learning and Skills Council scrapped an £85million plan to rebuild the whole college, leaving much of the campus as a building site.

Since then, classes have been held in temporary building.

The Government’s Skills Funding Agency has contributed £7million towards the cost, with the college paying for the rest.