A £1m construction training centre is being planned for the borough’s aspiring builders, thanks to a partnership between Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham councils.
The “innovative centre” will be housed at Elephant Park, at the heart of Southwark in one of the country’s largest regeneration sites at the Elephant and Castle.
The centre will train workers, who will be in high demand for the £10.7bn worth of construction works planned in the tri-borough area over the next three years.
Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “With our own commitment to building 11,000 new council homes as well as the regeneration schemes on Elephant and Castle, Canada Water and Aylesbury, we are seeing a significant level of construction work available in the borough.
“Between us, the three boroughs have more construction work happening over the next few years than the Olympics or Crossrail, and we need to make sure our residents have the best opportunities to make the most of the benefits this work brings, especially job creation. The construction skills centre will be central to that providing the right training and employment support to pretty much guarantee work in this blossoming industry.”
The planning application has already been submitted to Southwark Council and, if approved, construction will begin on the new centre this autumn. It will open in early-2016.
