BUILDING work on Bromsgrove's new, multi-million pound arts centre is set to start at the end of this month.

Contracts sealing the partnership deal between Bromsgrove District Council and NEW College were signed and sealed at the Council House in Burcot Lane.

District council leader Councillor Dennis Norton said: "This is great news. Everything is now in place for work to begin on the state of the art multi-purpose School Drive centre.

"The builders should be moving on to the site later this month or in early June, and it should be completed by December 2004.

"It will be one of the best acoustic art centres in the region, offering a wide variety of facilities for a variety of performing arts. The three storey building will have a five-storey auditorium," he added.

College vice-principal Tricia Burton was also delighted at the prospect of work starting on the centre when the contracts were signed last Wednesday.

"We look forward to being able to welcome both new students and visitors from across the region and beyond, who have been attracted to Bromsgrove by the opportunities to study and engage in cultural activities, that the new centre will provide," she said.

When completed, two trusts will take responsibility for the town's new arts centre. The Holding Trust will look after the land and the building, while the Operating Trust will carry out day-to-day management.

Trustees on the Holding Trust are nominees from the council and the college and those on the management trust are also nominees from the two bodies, as well as five representatives from other interested groups.

Stoke-on-Trent building firm, J&S Seddon will be carrying out the construction work.