11:00am Wednesday 8th July 2009
PLANS to open a temporary university campus in Darlington have been passed by councillors bringing students to the town two years early.
Darlington College is set to become a satellite campus of the University of Teesside accepting its first students in September 2011.
The university hopes to construct a £13m purpose-built campus at Central Park next to Darlington College.
However, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet group has approved plans for the university to use Eastbourne School, from September.
The school is set to close at the end of this term before it moves into its new academy in the autumn.
Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for efficiency and resources, said at this week's cabinet meeting: "They wish to see a build-up of their student numbers over the two years before they get the new development.
"There would be much benefit for us as an authority and for the town. It would bring all those benefits two years early."
The plans also received support from across the parties.
Councillor Heather Scott, leader of the Conservative group, said: "It is a fantastic opportunity. We must do anything we can do to get the university facility in the town."
Following the meeting, university vice-chancellor Prof Graham Henderson said: "We are looking forward with great excitement to our new state-of-the-art university building opening in Darlington in 2011, but we are keen to begin offering more higher education opportunities for people in the Darlington area as soon as possible."
The university will carry out some improvement works to the Eastbourne building before opening.
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