"EEDA is very proud to have been a leading force in driving this innovative project forward, having successfully helped bring together a number of partners to turn what was once a dream into a reality.

"This is a major step forward for Harlow in terms of developing a broad skills base that can support its growing economy. Not only will the new centre increase participation in higher education in the city, but also it will provide essential links with businesses, and this will inevitably help improve workforce productivity and business development."

"We are delighted to have reached outline agreement on the funding of the new facilities. This is a major step towards the creation of a self-sustaining university centre for the Harlow area, which will help to widen higher education participation and underpin the economic growth and change planned for the Harlow-Stansted sub-region.

"The new university centre is designed to help achieve the ambitious development plans of the District Council and Harlow 20-20 Partnership, Essex County Council, and Harlow Renaissance Limited. The growth in population, the economy and public services sets high targets for higher education. We look forward to the challenge of meeting these targets and are very grateful to EEDA for the support they have given to the project so far."

"The creation of a higher education centre in the town opens up both exciting possibilities and significant challenges for those involved. We want to see this centre put to good use, delivering higher education programmes, most of which will be Foundation Degrees driven by the needs of industry. There will need to be significant buy-in from local employers to make this venture work, and further strategic discussions between the College and Anglia Ruskin University."