£62m college revamp revealed
This is the first image showing how Stafford College could look if a £62 million redevelopment goes ahead.
Plans for the scheme were passed by planners this week after the college toned down an ultra-modern look included in earlier designs.
Bosses are now waiting to see if money can still be found from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) after funding shortfalls at the Government quango left the college and many others up and down the country in limbo.
The LSC was set to meet 75 per cent of the costs and is now reviewing cases to see which schemes it is still prepared to fund. However, principal Stephen Willis is optimistic over Stafford College's chances.
He said: "We're obviously delighted we've got planning permission. We'll be contacting the LSC this week and then we're expecting they will make their decision in early June. From then, work could actually start within three months and it would be completed by late 2012 or early 2013."
At a meeting on Wednesday night, Stafford Borough Council's development control committee voted unanimously to pass the plans, which were altered from earlier designs to use less glass, experimental window designs and fashionable cladded metal, with more traditional brickwork instead.
Councillor Geoff Collier said: "This is fantastic. This is what Stafford needs.
"This is going to be a massive addition to the town."
The only criticism from the councillors came over the loss of 70 staff and disabled parking spaces.
However, the meeting heard if the scheme goes ahead, the college will pay £60,000 to boost parking in the town. After the meeting, Mr Willis added that all the disabled parking bays lost would be replaced.
The plans involve demolition work in two phases. The first would see the Workshop and Skills Centre buildings facing the Broadeye roundabout pulled down, together with part of the central link block and Tenterbanks link block. The Earl Street building and main part of the central link block would be targeted in the second phase.
The redevelopment of the site would then involve the construction of an extension to the Grade II listed Tenterbanks building, a building on Earl Street, an Atrium Building, a sports building within the site and an extension to the existing sports hall.
