PLANS to build a university technical college (UTC) in Berkeley have been approved.

Stroud District Council gave its backing to the proposal at the Gloucestershire Science and Technology Park at the former nuclear laboratories.

It is one of 60 UTCs either already open or in the pipeline nationwide and will specialise in advanced manufacturing and digital technologies for learners from the age of 14.

Work on developing the centre began after securing a government grant in 2014.

SGS College principal and chairman of the UTC governing body, Sara-Jane Watkins, said: “The Berkeley GREEN UTC is an exciting development that will be an asset to the region.

“Young people will have an opportunity to specialise in their chosen industry as well as gaining the GCSEs that they would do at secondary school with clear progression routes into employment, apprenticeships and higher education.”

The 14-acre site is being transformed into a £30 million state-of-the-art campus which is due to open in September 2017.

As well as housing the newly-approved UTC, the campus also includes the GREEN Skills Centre which incorporates education, training, research and business facilities.

Since October last year, the campus has hosted a number of open events offering prospective students the chance to meet with course specialists and learn about the cyber security, engineering and digital technologies programmes on offer.

The next open event at the campus will take place on Saturday, September 10 from 10am-1pm, when people will have the opportunity to tour the site a learn more about the courses on offer.

For more information visit berkeleygreenutc.org.uk or contact Clare Wilson y emailing clare.wilson@sgscol.ac.uk or info@sgscol.ac.uk