A school in Ely has been told it can upgrade an “unsafe” building which has been partially closed off to students.

East Cambridgeshire District Council has given permission for Needham Tower block in Ely College to be turned into a “state of the art” sixth form centre.

The school, in Downham Road, is part of the Meridian Trust group of academies.

In the application that was submitted to the district council, the academy trust said the current sixth form provision was “not suitable” and that a new facility was needed.

The trust said it had been given funding to provide new post-16 education facilities and set out its hopes to refurbish and convert the Needham Tower into a new “state of the art” sixth form centre.

The academy trust said the school had only been using the ground and first floor of the four-storey building, due to the upper floors being deemed “unsafe”.

It added that there was also confirmed asbestos within the building and said it was in a “poor state of repair”.

The building is now due to be refurbished and the exterior re-clad.

The academy trust said the building will be made net zero with solar panels put on the roof, and an air source heat pump installed.

The proposed refurbishment of the building was supported by planning officers at the district council and the application was approved.

The planning officer report said: “It is considered that the proposals would be a significant enhancement to the existing tower and surrounding area.

“It will much improve the look of the existing town and the landscaping works will assist in improving the tower’s surroundings.”