A NEW technology building on the College of West Anglia’s Wisbech campus will provide world class engineering skills, Fenland District Council heard.

The �1.5million funding agreed by the council will help to redevelop the Wisbech site and tackle the skills need of the local economy, said the council’s corporate director Tim Mills.

Figures show the importance of manufacturing to Fenland and delivery of a specialised training facility would support engineering, manufacturing and product design.

Mr Mills told the council last Thursday: “It would, therefore, support significant existing businesses and enhance the attractions of the district for further investment.”

With companies such as Fenmarc, McCain, Nestle Purina, HL Foods, Del Monte, Greenvale, Streamfoods and Premier there was clear evidence of the skills need of the area.

The council, which believes additional funding from Cambridgeshire County Council is essential to ensure it can be �successfully delivered, expects to see a 2,700sq metre building erected on the �Wisbech campus.

It will accommodate engineering, motor vehicle, motorsport, computer aided design, IT and general purpose classrooms.

Fenland Council agreed in principle to support the campus in February �following the collapse of the Learning and Skills Council’s plans for a �70million campus at March.

The decision to invest in Wisbech has always been regarded as a second-best option but councillors felt it was essential they did their bit to enhance life skills for young people.

The college is expected to submit a �planning application in the New Year and the centre could open as early as 2012.