A NEW chapter is about to open for a college, following a controversial relocation.

The former split-site Billingham-Stockton Technical College moved to a single campus on the Teesdale redevelopment site on the Thornaby bank of the River Tees two years ago - and changed its name to Stockton Riverside.

Residents and local business people had launched a vociferous campaign to stop the main college building moving out of Billingham - in vain.

The college provides courses from foundation to advanced level in fields such as business, childcare and computing.

More than 15,000 students attended Stockton Riverside College last year, gaining more than 25,500 vocational and academic qualifications.

Now work is about to start on another phase the building, which will take up an acre of land adjacent to the existing college building.

The new building will house modern conference facilities and vocational training workshops.

The college says the second phase is much needed to increase provision in areas such as technology and cater for all student needs.

Building is scheduled to run for 40 weeks, at a cost of £4.6m. It is to be ready for students from September next year, the beginning of the academic year.

Principal of Stockton Riverside College, Sujinder Sangha, said: "The new site will make use of high-quality, world-class learning facilities and along with the college serve our students and the local community."

Development executive Martin Vickerman, of developers Terrace Hill, said: "We are delighted to be continuing not only our ten years of successful development on Teesdale, but our ongoing relationship with Stockton Riverside College.

"We developed phase one of the college in 2002 and are very pleased to be working with them again on phase two.

"We are sure that the new building will be a major success for the college."

Work is due to start later this month. Little disruption is forecast for staff, students and the local community.