Baxley Council has received a £100,000 funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) for its plans to build the Place and Making Institute, a potential engineering college in east Thamesmead. The grant will be used to develop the scheme, which is also part of Bexley’s growth strategy.
“I would like to thank the GLA for helping to support us in developing the proposal, which has the potential to benefit people across London and the south-east,” said Councillor Teresa O’Neill OBE, the leader of Bexley Council. “The Institute will create all types of opportunities for people to shape the places of the future, with input from the worlds of construction, development, education, housing, planning, and local government.”
The major campus will be developed with help from Peabody, one of London’s largest housing associations, and London South East Colleges.
The Place and Making Institute will be training students in the construction and engineering sectors, from NVQ level two to postgraduate studies. The proposed location is an area of major growth for Bexley Council, which had planned 4,000 new homes and 5,000 new jobs, plus a new Crossrail station, all included in its growth strategy. By 2036, Bexley will see a total of 31,000 new homes.
“This is exciting news not only for Thamesmead, but for the future prosperity of London and the south east. We need the skills to create great places and sustainable communities. Working closely with our partners, this centre of excellence for place and making will help us deliver something great for the town today and into the future,” commented on the news John Lewis, executive director for Thamesmead at Peabody.
Peabody is one of London’s oldest and largest housing associations, which now owns and manages more than 55,000 homes and London and the South East, housing over 111,000 residents. It also has 8,000 care and support customers.
