An ambitious bid to build a new millennium college campus in Southend will be one of the biggest projects the town has ever seen.

Chief executive and town clerk George Krawiec told business leaders he was excited by South East Essex College's plans to relocate to a prime site in the town centre.

Degree and higher Education courses will be on offer at the state-of-the-art building, thanks to a partnership with Essex University.

Mr Krawiec said: "The relocation of South East Essex College and the establishment of a university presence in Southend will have a very significant positive effect on the economic well-being of the town."

Mr Krawiec spoke as college managers attended a crunch meeting with the Further Education Funding Council in an attempt to drive the proposals forward.

Business development manager, Philip Walker said: "It is now crunch time for the project. College managers have now gone face-to-face with the people who will fund it. The initial reaction has been very positive."

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