12 college building projects approved after prioritisation and cost reduction

A lucky 12 colleges were given Learning and Skills Council (LSC) approval on Friday for their new and improved building projects.

LSC chief executive Geoff Russell said: "This has been a tough and challenging process, but the Building Colleges for the Future programme is moving forward and today’s announcement is proof of that.

"We continue to work with the Association of Colleges’ task force to explore private finance options for those colleges that are not being funded. We will honour on our commitment to ensuring that no college runs into genuine financial difficulty as a result of decisions that have had to be made on capital funding"

The colleges that successfully carried out strict prioritisation and cost reduction exercises over the summer are:

– Barnsley College

– Bournville College

– Furness College

– Hartlepool College of Further Education

– Kirklees College

– Leyton Sixth Form College

– North West Kent College

– St Helens College

– Sandwell College

– South Thames College

– Tresham Institute of Further and Higher Education, Corby

– West Cheshire College

A spokeswoman for the LSC added: "The last details of The Manchester College proposals for the development of its Wythenshawe campus are being finalised to ensure value for money and the educational impact of the project are maximised. We expect to make an announcement in the near future that this project will proceed."

LSC has also signalled support for the re-development of Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College in West Lancashire, which is part of the Newcastle College Group.

Jackie Fisher, Group Chief Executive of Newcastle College Group, said: "I am very pleased to learn that the LSC has agreed to support the development of Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College, as decided before the recent prioritisation exercise, and that the project will now proceed to the approval stage.

"I would also particularly like to thank the local MP, Rosie Cooper, who worked tirelessly in support of the new college and Steven Broomhead, Chair of the Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College Advisory Committee. The support of West Lancashire Borough council has also proved invaluable.

"The new college will provide fantastic facilities for the people of West Lancashire and give a boost to the local economy."