Word under way on £77m college

Work is set to start on Sandwell's £77 million landmark new college as the Government education chiefs finally give it the go- ahead.

The long-awaited decision was announced on Friday by the Learning and Skills Council. College Principal, Val Bailey, reckons it is now full steam ahead with the building work.

She said: "This is fantastic news for the people of Sandwell and the surrounding region. We are now looking forward to helping deliver a future for the people of Sandwell.

"We have always remained confident that the new Sandwell College was a high priority for the LSC, and that everything would be done to ensure that the new build came to fruition."

"The rebuilding project is vital to the future education and training of people in the Black Country. It will enable the college to expand and will make an important contribution to the economic recovery of the region."

The approval follows months of speculation and competition between 13 other colleges vying to meet the LSC's criteria for the cash. They are one of a dozen to win the pay out, out of an initial 200 applicants.

Contractors are now gearing up to commence work on the Spon Lane site which will see the existing three sites in West Bromwich, Oldbury and Smethwick, merged into one larger campus in the town centre, with a provisional opening date of September 2010.

In July bosses at the college cut £8million from their original budget, after all 13 colleges around the country shortlisted for cash were told last month to make revisions to their plans to reduce budgets.

It reduces the budget from an original £85m to £77m. The final payout amount has not yet been revealed.

Under the plans the new building will cater for 10,000 students and will include state-of-the-art facilities, as well as a food hall, bar and European-style piazza.

Borough education chief Councillor Ian Jones said: "This is excellent news, it will mean the people of Sandwell have a world class college."

But plans to develop Sandwell's first ever university campus alongside the college were recently put on hold, due to issues over funding. 0

Birmingham City University and Sandwell College were working with the council to set up a higher education facility, which would involve developing a campus opposite the college site in Spon Lane in West Bromwich.

Sandwell College would then offer degrees as part of the scheme through Birmingham City University.

But education bosses are hopeful the plans can be reignited in the future now that Government funding has been agreed for the college rebuild.

The work on Sandwell College is part of £500m of redevelopment planned for West Bromwich, which also includes a Tesco supermarket and new shopping centre.