A COLLEGE could become a jobs-boosting centre of excellence linked to a multi-million-pound Hollywood-style film studio if plans are approved.
Budding Steven Spielbergs and Ridley Scotts could be nurtured at Peterlee's East Durham and Houghall College (EDHCC) if plans to link its facilities with a planned film studio get the green light.
The plans have been described as "the most excitin
g project in the region", and could create "hundreds" of new jobs.
District of Easington council has received a planning application for a centre of creative excellence, comprising film studios and facilities including education, student accommodation and a hotel to be built on land south of the A182 Dawdon link road.
The application for outline planning permission reads: "The film studios will have the capacity to compete for international full length feature films which could substantially expand the UK share of the internationally mobile film market."
The studios would have the capacity to attract television, production, industrial films and videos, commercials, computer-generated imaging, editing, equipment rentals, sound and music recording and video and DVD duplication.
The development would provide media facilities for Sunderland University. East Durham and Houghall College's role would be to provide related and complementary courses such as work-based learning, hospitality and media and creative arts.
Around 2,000 students are anticipated to use the jobs-boosting complex and EDHCC would provide educational opportunities from entry level through to foundation degrees, for 14-16-year-olds and upwards.
East Durham College principal and chief executive Ian Prescott said he was "thrilled" with the college's involvement in the plans.
He said: "Not only will this project create thousands of jobs for North East workers, it will also continue to develop the talent of the future.
"As a centre for creative excellence, the complex is the ideal place to situate educational programmes based on the arts, entertainment and media industries and one in which the students will be highly motivated to achieve all they are possible of."
The plans will be discussed at an extra-ordinary meeting of the district council on Friday.
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