Work is beginning on a state-of-the-art £6m sport and leisure development at Uxbridge College. A new sports hall will replace the existing facilities - which are in the oldest part of the College and around 40 years old - and other improvements to the site will also be made.
The development which is being constructed by Kier Group at the campus in Park Road, Uxbridge, will include:
* A hall with facilities for sports including 5-a-side football, cricket, basketball, netball and volleyball, and a full-size electronic scoreboard. The hall will be 50% taller and 50% bigger than the original building.
* An outdoor Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) which will include a basketball / netball court of around regulation size, and a 5-a-side pitch.
* A new fitness suite which is 50% larger than the old one.
* Sustainable materials and construction processes.
* Changes to College road access which will reduce the amount of traffic in Gatting Way - which provides access to the new Hillingdon Sport and Leisure Complex - by 50%.
Development is due to start on 4 May, following Hillingdon Council's decision to grant planning permission on 13 April.
Laraine Smith OBE, Principal of Uxbridge College, said: "We are really looking forward to Uxbridge College's fantastic new £6m sports facilities being completed in the autumn.
"The sports hall is one of the last of our original buildings to get a complete upgrade, and the development will ensure we have the best possible facilities for our students, staff and community.
"We will ensure we keep disruption to a minimum and make sure our community is kept well informed of developments."
Plans for the new hall, which is due to be completed by the autumn term, include options for community use, such as 5-a-side football, basketball and netball.
The new hall will also be used for Uxbridge College's Sports Academies in football, basketball and cricket, and enable the College to expand its range of sport coaching qualifications.
The sports hall will be made using sustainable materials and construction processes, including pre-fabricated timber panels from sustainable forests. All construction traffic will use the Park Road entrance to Uxbridge College, minimising disruption to local residents and users of Hillingdon Sport and Leisure Complex. Contractors Kier are part of the Considerate Contractors Scheme.