A COLLEGE is planning an expansion to improve its teaching facilities for science and technology to try and meet the future needs of the regional economy.

The development at New College Durham has been designed to focus on providing teaching in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects and will help cater for a 10 per cent rise in the number of school leavers between 2019 and 2023.

John Widdowson, the college’s principal and chief executive said: “The new development has been designed to respond to our very specific local and regional economic needs.

“As a college we already have a growing presence in STEM and related subjects including applied science, engineering, construction and the build environment, manufacturing and digital industries.”

The college, which needs the new facilities for its bid to become an institute of technology, says it expects to have a greater focus on directing young people towards the subjects so they can secure jobs in these growing sectors.

The region has already experienced an increase in financial sector jobs, with start-ups such as Atom Bank creating a new demand on skills.

Mr Widdowson added: “We work closely with employers when developing our curriculum to ensure that our students have the skills and expertise needed to go into the workplace and succeed.”

A planning application for the scheme has been submitted to Durham Country Council.

If approved, the college hopes building will start later this year and it will be open by September 2019.