Curtain to rise on new arts building at college

The college, one of the most successful in the state sector in the Midlands, retained Birmingham-based Brooke Smith Planning to obtain permission for the arts block at its Lower High Street campus.

The development received unanimous backing from Dudley Council's planning committee. It will see the erection of a two-storey 1,610 sq. m building, which will include state-of-the-art accommodation for IT, graphics, dance and drama as well as a new kitchen and dining room/common room.

The building will have a relatively high ceiling height of 4.7m to allow for lighting rigs and other associated equipment to be installed easily. It will stand between the existing buildings fronting Coventry Street and the Lycett Building on the main campus and provide a frontage onto Duke Street.

Keir Price of Brooke Smith Planning said: "This is a fantastic development that will have a positive impact upon the surrounding locality. It will provide enhanced facilities and these will ensure that King Edward VI College remains one of the top sixth form colleges in the West Midlands."

The college plans to start development on the new arts block later this year, ready to open in time for the start of the 2014/15 academic year.