The collapse of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College’s plan to redevelop its sites in Oxford, Blackbird Leys and Banbury is a blow for the city and for Oxfordshire.

The major part of the £120m project was to be central to the redevelopment of the West End of Oxford. With the Westgate Centre redevelopment beset by unspecified delay, the whole West End regeneration is facing an uncertain future.

The college is a victim of the chaotic organisation at the Learning and Skills Council which has seen hopes dashed of other major college redevelopments in Oxfordshire and across the country.

Ironically, these are the sort of schemes that should be given priority in our present circumstances.

There are signs, we are told, that the UK has come out of recession, at least with a stutter.

Developing improved facilities at colleges brings work in construction and ultimately brings hope of future opportunities to a whole generation of young people looking for training and their first work opportunities.

There seems little chance that the college schemes can now be resurrected. The alternative will be a simple refurbishment of existing buildings.

What a difference when one looks across at the multi-million pound schemes proposed by Oxford’s two universities, both of which appear to be well on course.

The University of Oxford and the Brookes University redevelopments will bring huge economic benefits to Oxfordshire.

They will benefit many young people from Oxfordshire, although the majority to benefit will come from outside the county.

We do not begrudge that. It is sad, however, that here in Oxfordshire, those that most need a helping hand into the world of work will not get the facilities they too deserve.

One has to wonder where these latest developments leave the West End regeneration. The only scheme that is being progressed is for the Christ Church land around Frideswide. That scheme remains at a planning stage.

Improved economic conditions will give an impetus to the Christ Church scheme and, one hopes, encourage the developers of the Westgate to make a start.

That still leaves a large hole waiting to be filled in the middle. We have been promised new council offices, but will these survive a cull in public spending?

The West End redevelopment is a tantalising opportunity that will contribute hugely to the future prosperity of Oxford and its surrounds. We can only hope that the first signs of economic recovery grow quickly into something more substantial.