STUDENTS attending Richard Huish College, Taunton, next September will be able to learn in a new lecture theatre and drama studio.

Work is starting immediately on a £1.4million two-storey modern social and teaching area.

The development includes a glass-fronted restaurant and cafe, a state-of-the-art 90-seat lecture theatre and a drama studio.

It has been designed to have a 21st Century and airy feel and will be benefit the community by being open to the public.

The work is being funded by a £930,000 grant from the Building Conditions Improvement Fund, provided by the Educational Funding Agency, and £250,000 from Chartwells, the college’s new catering contractor.

Taunton Deane Council has approved the plans and work is expected to be finished next summer ahead of returning students and freshers coming off their holidays next September.

Alternative catering and social space is being made available while the building works take place.

Richard Huish’s assistant principal Paul Dampier said: “This is great news for the college.

“We are constantly considering ways in which we can improve the campus for our students to ensure we provide outstanding teaching and learning in state-of-the-art facilities.

“We also hope that the local community will be able to benefit by hiring out the facilities for events.

“We are very pleased to get this funding and look forward to starting work on the new build so that our current lower sixth students will reap the benefits next year.”