Work has started on Derby College’s new £3.5 million Construction Academy in Pride Park which is due to open to students this September.

The college is working with developers Cedar House to construct a 3,000 sq metre building on land currently owned by the Homes and Communities Agency and originally earmarked by former East Midlands Developments Agency for the Railway Technical Centre.

It will house 650 full time and part time students as well as apprentices in bricklaying, joinery and carpentry, painting and decorating and plastering.

Head of faculty Dawn Kemp said: “We are very excited that work has started on the new Construction Academy which has already attracted a great deal of interest in potential learners looking to come to College in September to learn a trade.