Concerns over college's £100m expansion plans

5:50pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Richmond upon Thames College is defending its £100m rebuild, insisting borough residents will benefit too.

The Twickenham-based college plans to build 30-35,000sq m of new and replacement teaching space, two outdoor grass sports pitches, two all-weather pitches, a multi-use games area, two sports halls and a fitness suite.

A planning brief is currently being devised, and will include a number of residential properties at the south end of the site. However, a spokeswoman for the college said no specific details, including its size and capacity, had been finalised.

Opposition deputy leader, Councillor David Marlow is worried about a reduction in parking spaces on the site and that the college proposes to increase height and size at the eastern end of the site, where the existing housing is two-storeys and to the west, where the Harlequins development, is five to six storeys.

He said: "Residents already have to put up with dusturbance from the college. I am urging the council to restrict the height of the new building to three storeys and to take steps to meet residents' demands for a quieter life."

The college spokeswoman added: "We are re-building because, like any school or college, we want our students and staff to benefit from the best possible facilities. We would hope that members of the local community, too, will be able to take advantage of a range of enhanced learning and social amenities."

She added it was including a green travel plan to promote sustainable transport and to reduce car travel to the site for students, staff and visitors.

The planning brief will be released later this month on Richmond Council's website, at York House and borough libraries. A public consultation will be conducted when designs are ready later this year.