£80m college plans in doubt

OLDHAM College’s £80 million redevelopment has little chance of going ahead, according to a report into the collapse of the Government’s multi-billion-pound college building programme.

But college chiefs remain confident that the massive overhaul of the Rochdale Road site, due to start in June, will still take place.

A spokeswoman said: “We’re working very closely with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the Association of Colleges to look at how the college can be rebuilt in the shortest space of time.”

The scheme is one of 79 further education projects in England halted after Government funding ran out. All projects totalling almost £3 billion were given approval in principle by the LSC, which funds further education.

Oldham College has planning permission to demolish seven buildings and replace them with six new blocks. Facilities would include a sports hall, high-tech hair and beauty salons, purpose-built classrooms and a corporate training suite.

Former Audit Commission chief Sir Andrew Foster, who was asked by the Government to investigate the delays, found the funding crisis was predictable and probably avoidable.

He laid much of the blame on the LSC and said it failed to keep a tally of the accelerating demand from colleges for funding. He said warnings of problems were raised as early as February, last year. College principals must now wait several months to hear their fate.

Sir Andrew said: “No-one is going to rush to spend fresh funds when this funding has been spent without proper planning.”