A COLLEGE is planning to turn some of its disused buildings into housing.

Colchester Institute's campus in Church Lane, Braintree, has put forward the idea to be considered for the district's Local Plan.

Part of the site has just been used to relocate the St Lawrence Surgery.

The area to be released is about four acres in size and contains a sports hall.

The newly built STEM Innovation Centre and other buildings are to be retained for educational use.

A Braintree Council report said: "The buildings to be lost are considered to be beyond their useful economic life and obsolete, and it is believed that there is no other educational or community demand for these buildings.

"The remaining area of land will be retained for educational purposes."

Planning officers said the demolition of underused buildings would help to support educational needs in the district, which is considered to be one of the council's key priorities.

They are recommending that part of the Braintree College site is de-allocated to be turned into housing.

Gary Horne, executive vice principal, said: "Colchester Institute continues to look to make the best possible use of its estate across north Essex to ensure a high value return for public expenditure.

"At the Braintree Campus the college is delighted to announce that the official opening of the new £6million STEM Innovation Centre will take place in June.

"This will allow for engineering and manufacturing programmes to be provided in the Braintree district for the first time.

"In addition, this investment allows the college to consider options supporting a longer term strategy to make best use of other parts of the site.

"We were delighted to be able to assist the relocation of the St Lawrence Surgery earlier this year to improve health facilities available to the local community and to support work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for our Braintree students."