KEY buildings at a much-loved Teesside park are to be transferred into the care of a York college as part of a new £3m education centre.

A teaching base will be established by York's Askham Bryan College at the Middlesbrough's Stewart Park within the Grade II-listed Central Lodge and some of the nearby buildings.

The college team will also take responsibility the Visitors Centre and café, further enhancing the existing facilities for visitors.

When fully up and running, the college will help around 400 students a year aged 16 to 19 achieve nationally recognised qualifications in horticulture, forestry and arboriculture, countryside management and animal husbandry.

It is hoped the development will boost local employability by helping to develop small businesses and adding to the town’s economy. It is also expected the community-focused facility will enhance the park’s existing facilities, giving mature students access to part-time and community-based education.

Askham Bryan College has been earmarked £3m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to transform these buildings.

The college has received the boost of confirmation of an initial £155,000 HLF award towards the development of the plans, and a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for these funds, to restore the Central Lodge building and its surrounds.

Plans to create state of the art lecture rooms, a learning resource centre, animal handling facility, workshops and a reception area are all now under way.

Stewart Park will remain accessible to the public, its Green Flag award-winning green spaces continuing to be managed by council officers.

Opening hours – including for the visitor centre and café - remain the same and key events such as the Cleveland Show, Parkrun and Farmers’ Markets will continue.

Councillor Tracy Harvey, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “Stewart Park is a true jewel in Middlesbrough’s crown and this important partnership with Askham Bryan opens up an exciting new chapter in its history."

Stewart Park, which opened in 1928, has been transformed over the last few years thanks to a Parks for People lottery grant of £4.4m.