Chancellor George Osborne gave Nantwich’s Reaseheath College a big pat on the back – after visiting its dairy parlour.
Mr Osborne praised Reaseheath for its efforts to help food producers meet the challenge of world population growth and climate change.
He visited the site to cut the first sod of a £8.5 million National Centre for Food Futures and the Environment.
Mr Osborne said: “Reaseheath College is rightly renowned for the quality of the education it provides, especially in the agriculture industry. I always want to try to provide funding for projects like this.
“One of the key elements of our long-term economic plan is to deliver the best schools and skills for young people in all sectors so the next generation can succeed in the global race.”
The project will enable the college to support the government’s agri-tech strategy, which aims to make the UK a world leader in agricultural technology, innovation and sustainability.
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has allocated a £5.8 million grant, with the remainder coming directly from the college.
The building will provide a leading national centre for horticultural production, environmental management and conservation and renewable energy. It will include a visitor centre and a schools unit.
In a second project, the college is to develop a £1.5 million state-of-the-art centre for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Both developments are to be sited on the former college golf course.
The college also intends to rebuild turf-based sports pitches and build a new sports centre and 3G and multi-use artificial sports area, for use by both students and the local community.
Principal Meredydd David said Reaseheath said: “I am thrilled the government has identified Reaseheath as their preferred location for investing capital to develop this national Food Futures Centre.
“This will ensure Reaseheath can continue to deliver specialist technical and educational training to next generation leaders.”
Mr Osborne was accompanied on his visit by local Eddisbury MP Stephen O’Brien, and MEP candidate for the North West Kevin Beaty.
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