Ely College has been given permission to upgrade an “unsafe” building which has been partially closed off to students. East Cambridgeshire District Council has given permission for Needham Tower block to be refurbished and converted into a “state-of-the-art” sixth form centre, with the exterior reclad. The school, in Downham Road, is part of the Meridian Trust group of academies. In its application, the trust said current sixth-form provision was “not suitable” and that a new facility was needed. It has only been using the ground and first floor of the four-storey building, due to the upper fl…