Revealed: £21m masterplan to transform Stafford College

College buildings on Earl Street and Broad Street will be bulldozed to make way for a modern skills and innovation centre and bring much of the campus under one roof.

Bosses say the build will contribute to the "regeneration and modernisation of the campus" and allow improve courses on offer.

The college has already got the green light to demolish former teaching blocks dating back to the 1970s and a sports hall and is now seeking permission for the new three-storey building, which will include a 300-seat auditorium.

Artist's impressions show a large, modern campus including a curved corner and timber columns looking out onto Broad Street and Earl Street. The site will also feature a plaza and the campus surrounded by green space.

Bosses say the college's current classrooms are "outdated" and sports hall "inadequate".

The overhaul will continue the investment in the site over recent years which has included new art facilities and a £3.5 million science and technology centre.

A report submitted with the plans to Stafford Borough Council said: "The new centre will be a high-quality landmark building, that will provide modern teaching space, a new sports hall and auditorium, as well as new accommodation for the college’s construction and engineering department that is currently sited away from the town centre and on land earmarked for redevelopment.

"The application proposal represents substantial investment in the college and will contribute towards the regeneration and modernisation of the campus."

Stafford councillor and borough council cabinet member Jonathan Price hailed the plans as "fantastic" for the town.

He said: "It's fantastic. This goes to show Stafford as a town is a great place for education.

"We are the county town and anything that enhances the educational offer available can only be a good thing. There are big plans for the north end of the high street so it is going to look great."

The planning report continued: "The proposal represents an exciting opportunity to modernise and extend the college facilities at its Stafford campus.

"The new building will be of a high quality and environmentally-friendly design and will provide a new fit-for-purpose educational block.

"The scheme will bring the campus up-to-date, and will provide new accommodation to support the growth of the college, and meet the expectations of new students, enabling the college to retain its competitive standing.

"The new building is also necessary to accommodate the college’s construction and engineering department, which is to be displaced from its existing site in the next couple of years.

"The proposal will provide a modern, eye-catching building that is of a bold style, but that is also functional and fit-for-purpose and takes into account the heritage sensitivities of the site.

"The overall development will secure the regeneration of the college campus and deliver investment into this important education resource, to ensure that it better meets the needs of future students and can accommodate its natural growth."