Work will start next week at Lillyhall Industrial Estate on the £6m project with completion expected in early summer of 2022.

The plans, passed by Allerdale Borough Council during April, include the construction of new engineering workshops, reconfiguring existing spaces to provide construction workshops, a replacement sports pitch with a changing pavilion and a new pedestrian crossing to connect the College’s two sites.

The building is designed by architects Cassidy and Ashton.

James Eager, director for Eric Wright Construction said: “As part of our commitment to the scheme, we have already engaged with the UTC students during the design development stage.

“We will also be providing a live learning environment for some of the students so they can join our construction teams on site and put into practice some of the theory they have studied at the college.”

He continued: “We have successfully delivered a considerable number of education facilities through the DfE low value framework and it is always great to see how the students and staff engage with the team while we are on site through live learning opportunities.”

The Energy Coast UTC Principal Cherry Tingle said: “Eric Wright’s team start on site. Their bid submission was really strong on social value and they had some great ideas about how the students could join in and learn in real time while the work is taking place.”