LEYTONSTONE: Construction skills centre may not go ahead (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LEYTONSTONE: Construction skills centre may not go ahead

12:17pm Wednesday 1st April 2009

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A TRAINING centre intended to give local people the skills to apply for Olympic construction jobs may never be built.

The National Skills Academy for Construction in Cathall Road, Leytonstone, is intended to be completed this year but the site remains empty.

The plot, owned by energy company and Olympic sponsor EDF, is earmarked for the Crossrail 2 project and is leased to the council on a long-term, temporary basis.

But following a halt on capital spending by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), an application for a £5.9 million grant to fund construction is now in jeopardy.

A spokeswoman for the LSC said: “This project was approved in principle but it has not yet had approval in full.

“The LSC is currently consulting with the Association of Colleges and other key sector organisations on proposals and a strategy for prioritisation for future projects.”

A total of eight other projects at an “advanced stage” have received funding ahead of the Cathall Road scheme.

Work is also now behind schedule after it was discovered that the land itself has “potentially hazardous hollow areas”, which are currently being filled.

The setbacks could mean apprentices are forced to train as far afield as Kent and Norfolk and could also mean the development has a shorter lifespan as a 10-year lease with EDF was signed in May 2008.

Approval in principle for funding from the LSC was given in November 2008, leading the council to expand its plans for the site.

The authority remains confident the centre will be open by late 2009 and a complementary training facility in Harrow Green, Leytonstone has been operating since January this year.

Cabinet member for enterprise and investment, Terry Wheeler said: “A key part of our vision for the borough’s future is ensuring that our residents have the kind of skills, training and qualifications that will allow them to prosper.

“There is a clear shortage of qualified tradespeople like scaffolders, welders and steel fixers in the UK, and by giving our residents access to training centres like this we will be helping to ensure that they can take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the Games.”

Olympic construction training in Waltham Forest to date:

• 308 Waltham Forest residents have trained at the borough's Harrow Green office.
• 45 Waltham Forest residents trained on Security Industry Authority.
• 159 Waltham Forest residents received plant-based training at the Eton Manor centre in Leyton, of which 58 moved into work on the Olympic site.
• 115 residents in total moved into work.

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