CONSTRUCTION work has started on the site of Bury College's new state-of-the-art £7 million super campus.

The college has awarded a £5.8 million contract for the building of the 70,000 sq ft new teaching and learning facilities on the Peel site, off Market Street, to HBG Construction North West.

The project involves the demolition of existing buildings on the Peel site, with the exception of the theatre, sports hall and nursery, and the sale of the college's Stand site on Church Lane, Whitefield.

Dr Helen Gilchrist, Bury College principal, took the controls of a giant excavator which helped lay the foundations for the millennium project. She is extremely enthusiastic about the project.

"This development is going to offer many more learning opportunities, not only for the people of Bury, but for the surrounding areas in the North West too," she declared.

A focal point of the new complex will be the "heart space" with a 10 metre high curved roof. Additional features include the construction of a Piazza Bridge, which will act as the main entrance to the new facilities.

Completion of the modern facilities is scheduled for the summer of 2000.

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