A new £45 million college campus has officially opened its doors in Greenwich — the first college building in the UK to achieve an Outstanding BREEAM rating.
London South East Colleges’ new Greenwich campus was opened today by the Lord-Lieutenant for London, Sir Kenneth Olisa, marking the end of a decade-long project to secure the future of further education in the borough.
The development replaces facilities on a site that has provided education to the local community for more than a century. It includes industry-standard workshops, specialist teaching facilities and dedicated wellbeing spaces, alongside the Outstanding BREEAM rating — the country’s top sustainability accolade for buildings.
A decade in the making
The project was first set in motion in 2016, when Greenwich Community College merged with Bromley College and Bexley College to form London South East Colleges, amid concerns over the long-term future of further education provision in Greenwich.
Additional funding was secured through the Greater London Authority and the Department for Education, with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Kier Construction and L&Q as partners.
Students benefited directly during construction through the Kier Careers Hub, which gave learners access to industry professionals, work experience and practical learning opportunities linked to the redevelopment itself.
Dr Sam Parrett CBE DL, Group Principal and CEO of Elevare Civic Education Group, said: “This building is the product of a promise we made to our students and our staff nearly a decade ago: that Greenwich would have facilities equal to the ambitions of the people who learn and work here.”
Stephen Howlett CBE DL, former Chair of Governors, added: “In 2016, this college faced real questions about its future. The decision to merge and to remain in Greenwich was a commitment to this community that further education would continue to thrive here for many years to come.”
David Eastgate, Chair of Governors, said the finished campus “represents confidence in Greenwich, in further education, and in the potential of every learner who walks through its doors.”
The new campus will serve thousands of students across academic, technical and vocational programmes, as part of the college’s commitment to social mobility in Greenwich and the surrounding area.
Reporting based on: London South East Colleges, 22 September 2026.
