The university centre development on the College’s Park Crescent campus will offer the majority of undergraduate degree programmes for the city, while additional locations are also being sought for sector-related programmes for industry, such as financial services and engineering and manufacturing, linked with major city employers.

It is hoped they would have a part to play in the ambitious growth plans for the city and halt a brain drain to other parts of the country.

The £8.9 million university centre building – a result of the partnership between Peterborough Regional College and Anglia Ruskin University – forms part of the masterplan for Peterborough Regional College – extending the line of the further education building and framing the college square.

The building will have a university feel and will include an open foyer area with a suspended 100-seat lecture theatre, “break out space”, computer provision and café area along with traditional teaching rooms and quiet study areas.

Meanwhile, the £75 million further education college development will provide state-of-the-art education and training facilities for school-leavers, adults and employers in Peterborough, providing the very best training facilities needed for a skilled local workforce. as well as progression routes to local higher education programmes.

It is anticipated that up to 20,000 students per year will study at the new college, which is to benefit from the latest industry-standard equipment and resources, including construction and engineering workshops, hair salons and complementary therapy spa, a brand new restaurant, theatre and performance studios, media centre with recording and photography studios, sports and fitness studios and the latest IT technology infrastructure.

The new campus will mark a significant step forward for education and training in Peterborough, providing the higher level skills needed for a prosperous and developing local economy.

Cabinet member for education councillor Geoff Ridgway said: “It looks very exciting.

“The main entrance is very attractive and there are various lecture rooms. It’s a £75 million project that will see the existing college being demolished and a new building to the west side next to the Thomas Deacon Academy. The university centre will be in front of it.”