Due to open in November 2009 at a cost of over £9 million, the Marine & Built Environment Centre (MBEC) will include specialist marine and boat building facilities with a range of full and part-time courses, and will have excellent links with the local and national marine industry. Sited at the Rhos-on-Sea Campus, subjects including woodwork, GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) propulsion systems and marine electronics will be taught alongside traditional construction and engineering subjects.

The Centre will also provide instruction on the use of renewable energy, including wind, solar power and ground source heat pumps. The Centre will provide students with sustainable development opportunities that are unavailable anywhere else in the area, providing training related to sustainable construction techniques and the provision of energy efficient practices. Staff with relevant skills, qualifications and experience will facilitate the progression of students on to degree courses and employment locally and internationally.

Marking the start of the construction, Mr Evans said: "The development will form part of the next phase of development at Coleg Llandrillo Cymru and will incorporate new facilities in Construction Skills including additional provision to support the marine sector.

"The College will seek to develop new areas of training related to sustainable construction techniques, and the provision of energy efficient practices. The building has been designed to the highest possible environmental standards, in keeping with the local environment. This initiative has been prioritised to support the growing local/regional demand for training to support the evolving construction industry, the growth in the marine sector, and the longer term potential of renewable energy sources. These industries will require a skilled workforce which need to be trained in North Wales."

The contractors are K&C Construction of Kinmel Bay and the Project Consultants are Atkins Ltd. of St Asaph. Malcolm Hill, Construction Director, said, "K&C Construction is delighted to be working with Coleg Llandrillo Cymru on this major project, which will bring opportunities to local construction workers in these difficult financial times."