A £953,000 extension to a construction centre at a Basingstoke college is under way.

The modern single-storey extension at Basingstoke College of Technology’s north site will enable it to be more cost efficient and offer added convenience to students studying the building trades.

Fareham Amiri Construction, working to plans by Basingstoke-based architects Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt, will complete the structure by the end of the year.

The area is currently occupied by a works yard where students undertake brickwork tuition.

The college plans to extend the construction building into part of this area to provide two large workshop classrooms and retain a yard space.

Hazel Jones, head of estates and facilities at BCoT, in Worting Road, said the extension and refurbishment of the original centre will attract students to consider training for the construction industry.

She added: “The industry space will provide new workshops to teach a skills base for many of the trades used by building and construction companies.”

David Moir, deputy principal finance and resources at BCoT, added: “The building industry is growing again and so we feel this is the perfect time to be investing in our building and construction facilities. The new facilities will mean our apprentices and students will be learning in realistic working environments."