Architects' plans for a state-of-the-art college relocation project designed by one of its alumni have been unveiled.A £20m project to move the two-site Paston College into a brand new three-storey eco-building on Station Road, North Walsham, have been received by members of the local community with enthusiasm, although concerns were voiced about the concentration of traffic in the vicinity of the school.

Architects' plans for a state-of-the-art college relocation project designed by one of its alumni have been unveiled.

A £20m project to move the two-site Paston College into a brand new three-storey eco-building on Station Road, North Walsham, have been received by members of the local community with enthusiasm, although concerns were voiced about the concentration of traffic in the vicinity of the school.

New playing fields, a studio theatre, IT suites, specialist classrooms and laboratories as well as solar hot water panels and other eco features were just some aspects that the new building would boast.

The design was put together by Paston Grammar School old boy and architect John Thornberry.

He said: “It is very interesting having been at the old Paston School to be part of future of the school.”

Almost 150 people looked at the plans last week at a meeting for the Station Road residents and on a display board at North Walsham Victory Pool, which is next-door to the proposed campus site.

Paston College deputy head, Tim Ellen and the building architect John Thornberry, have been listening to concerns from locals about the proposals and answering questions about the draft plan.

Mr Ellen said: “We have got on very well. The response has been terrifically encouraging and there has been tremendous support for the college.

He said that there were a lot of positive things said about the college as it is at the moment too.

North Walsham town councillor, Ted Gadsden, said that the council welcomed the project as education is one of the things that draws people to the town.

But he said that Station Road was a very narrow road which people were concerned about in terms of traffic and was wondering about the times of trains at the station which is right next to the new site.

He also said that there were concerns that proposals that could see 149 new homes built nearby on the old HL food site would also generate traffic.

A plan will be submitted to North Norfolk District Council next month following the pre-planning application consultation.

The plan can be seen on the college and the district council websites at www.paston.ac.uk and www.northnorfolk.gov.uk.