Plans submitted for landmark £10m UTC

A MILESTONE has been reached in plans for a £10m University Technical College which aims to deliver an 'entirely new' educational model for Hull.
Artist's impression of the £10m Ron Dearing University Technical College in Kingston Square, HullArtist's impression of the £10m Ron Dearing University Technical College in Kingston Square, Hull
Artist's impression of the £10m Ron Dearing University Technical College in Kingston Square, Hull

Plans have been submitted to Hull Council for the “employer-led” Ron Dearing UTC, to be built on the John Street car park next door to Hull New Theatre facing Kingston Square.

Specialising in digital technology and mechatronics – a combination of computing and engineering - it will take up to 600 students aged 14 to 19, with the first intake of 120 starting next September.

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Sponsors for the college, part of an educational hub with Hull Trinity House Academy and Hull College, are the University of Hull, KC, Siemens and Spencer Group. Chair of trustees Charlie Spencer said the students would learn through projects directly relevant to the needs of industry, producing “a new generation of talented young people with the digital and engineering skills to drive forward the region’s economy.”

However residents who say getting a parking space near their homes is already a nightmare, are concerned about the loss of another 50 parking spaces. Kingston Square Association has called on Hull Council for a reserved resident parking scheme, similar to those in York and Scarborough. KSA member Antony Hatfield said: “Views range from people who don’t want the UTC to those who are fairly positive. Parking is a big problem: we are going to have 75 cars descend on the square to pick up, but it’s all double yellow lines or bays.”

Coun Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder for Energy City with responsibility for transport, said: “We are aware of their concerns and are looking at various options to best meet the needs of residents and visitors to the area.

“City centre residents already have parking permits which allows them to park on streets anywhere within the city centre, however we are working with them to look at proposed methods of alternatively controlled parking, which may include the option to have dedicated parking spaces or extend controlled parking zones.”

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