Work has begun on the new £15 million Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology (SSIoT) centre at Crawley College.

It follows the completion of a s106 agreement between West Sussex County Council and Crawley Borough Council confirming previously granted planning consent, secured by Vail Williams on behalf of long-standing client Chichester College Group.

It is the latest phase of wider masterplan that includes development of the College Road site and regeneration of the town centre.

The new four-storey building, due to open in Autumn 2025, will help students learn specialist construction, engineering and provide digital ‘learning factories’, designed to be inclusive for all students attending the new institution.

Vail Williams worked alongside Bond Bryan Architects, construction consultants Ward Williams Associates and Amiri Construction, in consultation with Crawley Borough Council.

The building will have solar panels, air source heat pumps, as well as a water harnessing and recycling system.

Vail Williams Gatwick regional managing partner Suzanne Holloway said: “We are delighted to have secured such an amazing educational opportunity in this unique, bespoke building which will provide future skills for students from Crawley and the wider region.

“The project team collectively worked really hard to resolve water neutrality, one of the main challenges of the project, successfully delivering an efficient and sustainable development.”

Andrew Green, chief executive of the Chichester College Group, said: “We are grateful to Suzanne Holloway and the team at Vail Williams for their support in getting this vital development across the line.

“The SSIoT is already under way with satellite centres opening at sites at our partner organisations, and we are making strides in shaping the technical curriculum in response to the skills needs of our region.

“This new building will give us more opportunities to educate and train people to address the skills shortages in the engineering, construction and IT industries.

“It is also another step forward in our long-term commitment to developing Crawley College, investing in the modernisation of our facilities, with the aim to inspire, drive and support the career aspirations of young people in our local area.”

He added: “The college group is committed to reducing our carbon footprint and it was important to us that our new building helps us on our journey towards net zero.

“We are training our students in new sustainable technologies, and it’s only right that our new buildings are developed using these technologies as well – helping us to create a more sustainable campus for our students to enjoy for years to come.”

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