WORK is now under way on NEW College's £9 million redevelopment project.

Students, residents and visitors to the town centre will soon be able to see progress on the new development, which is set to become a major addition to the regeneration of the area.

Work has begun at the Peakman Street campus on a building which, says the college, will be a spectacular example of modern architectural design and a showcase for modern learning technologies. Following a devastating fire on the site three years ago the college conceived an ambitious plan to not only replace facilities but to develop new ones to ensure the town has one of the most modern learning facilities in the country.

The project has already seen major demolition work and now Warwickshire company Pettifer Construction is preparing foundations for the erection of steelwork later this month.

College principal Neil Bromley was keen to stress that it would be business as usual while the work went on.

"We have been very careful to ensure that it does not affect our students," he said.

"We were particularly pleased to find students from our Sixth Form Centre were able to record the best A-Level results ever this summer, regardless of the demolition work."

The Redditch Advertiser hopes to bring updates on the development including pictures giving an impression of what the building will look like when completed next year.