The university campus being built on the site of the old Odeon building in Southend High Street will have a massive impact on the town.
Boost - Linda Jones, front second right, said the new university facility will integrate business with study in the town. Council officials, developer Ron Martin and EEDA officials were also at the launch Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
That was the proud boast from Essex University's Linda Jones as all those involved in the development got together for the first time.
In February or March work will start to turn the huge building into part of the college campus planned for the area behind the central station.
The work will be thanks to funding from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and is part of a programme to provide higher education facilities for up to 1,500 undergraduates and post graduates.
As well as EEDA executives, Southend Council, the University of Essex and the town's own South East Essex College were represented at the meeting hosted by Linda, the director of business, enterprise and innovation for the University of Essex.
She said: "Today was an opportunity for all the key stake holders to get together.
"It is the first real day of the development of the second phase of the Southend campus and we are all delighted to be meeting up to take the project forward."
Published Monday January 19, 2004
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