South East Essex College in Southend was spread over four sites, which were costly to maintain, energy inefficient and involved staff and students wasting time moving between buildings. In 2002, the college decided it needed a new single building in order to deliver the modern day curriculum more efficiently.
The college, however, suffered a shortfall in funding and, although it was asset rich, it was cash poor. This is where John Laing was able to help. The company was able to procure a purchaser for the college’s existing sites, at a guaranteed minimum price, enabling the company to construct the new building as a Public Private Partnership project. The £36 million construction was completed in September 2004.
John Laing undertook the project management and construction management of the new college building and the procurement of the property purchaser for the college’s existing sites.
The college’s 12,000 students currently have 26,000m² of state of the art college space, including a 250 seat auditorium.
John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS) provides hard facilities management including M&E maintenance, as well as managing the relocation of retained laboratory and studio equipment. It has also assisted the college with the selection and appointment of a maintenance contractor, post-occupation
