WORK has started on a new £2.3million science block at Kingston Maurward College.

The project will see the construction of a new Animal Sciences Centre to further boost its teaching and learning facilities.

The scheme will deliver five classrooms, an ICT suite, areas for dog grooming, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, together with a specialist aquatic teaching area.

Additional staff rooms, offices and welfare facilities will also be provided in the new block.

The scheme is being built thanks to public sector construction procurement specialists Scape and contractor Kier.

Mark Robinson, group chief executive at Scape, said: “This is an exciting scheme which will boost the facilities on offer at Kingston Maurward College.

“The new science block will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment to benefit its students. “Not only will money be saved by using Scape, but the college has 100 per cent certainty that the scheme will be completed on time and on budget. This is a guarantee which comes with all projects delivered through Scape’s national frameworks.”

Martin Orr, Kier director, added: “We have worked very closely with the college to understand their needs and ensure that the end users’ requirements of functionality, quality and budget, will be achieved.

“The project is managed through the Scape national framework and will be carried out by our local Poole office, employing subcontractors and suppliers from the local area wherever possible.”

A ceremony, attended by students and lecturers from the college, together with employees from Kier, has been held to mark the start of work.

Clare Davison, principal at Kingston Maurward College, said: “This purpose-built Animal Science Centre will be an enormous asset to the college, meeting the highest welfare standards for animals and allowing students to benefit from modern airy classrooms.

“It will replace long outgrown animal conservation and welfare academy classrooms, which can now be better used for other purposes.”

The project is due to be completed in late October.