A bid for more than £1.7 million to put towards the expansion of a Thurston college has been approved.

Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet today agreed to use a portion of its community infrastructure levy (CIL) funding, provided by developers in the region, to increase the capacity of Thurston Community College by 150 places.

The expansion will create places for 11 to 16-year-olds, and is deemed necessary as the college’s catchment area is expected to increase. It already has the largest catchment area nationally.

This is the first of two phases for the college’s expansion project and will see places increasing from 1,500 to 1,650. The second phase, not covered by the CIL bid, is expected to lead to 1,800 college places.

The extra 150 places are expected to be ready for pupils by September 2023.

Nicki Mattin, principal at Thurston Community College, said: “I would like to thank councillors for approving our CIL bid and enabling us to support students present and future in their learning.

“Investments such as these are vital for enabling us to deliver the high standard of teaching we aspire to.

“As Thurston grows so does the demand for education at every level, and we will use this latest funding to ensure that our community is one that young people are excited to learn in.”

Thurston Community College educates more children than any other school in Suffolk and its sixth form is in the top ten per cent of sixth-form providers in England.

The approved CIL bid was for just over £1.78 million and the full project cost is expected to be just over £2 million.

Section 106 funding, also provided by developers, will contribute £108,595.

The money from basic need funding, given by the national government to help local authorities ensure there are enough school places in their areas, will be £33,943.

Suffolk County Council will lend £18,011 to the project.

Cllr Sarah Mansel referred to the inclusion of pupils from West Suffolk Council’s area in the college, stating “I hope we are not funding them.”

The head of schools infrastructure at Suffolk County Council responded to Cllr Mansel by saying funding from West Suffolk Council has not yet been approved, but it will go towards the second stage of the expansion if and when it is.