Campus in line to get £20m revamp

Abingdon and Witney College's managers have cancelled plans to move to the outskirts of the town and have instead decided to spend £20m updating the existing site in Holloway Road.

Consultation with students, residents, councillors and the business community showed overwhelming support for the college to stay in the town.

Director of development Steve Billcliffe said: "When we met businesses from west Oxfordshire we got the same feedback as from the rest of the town - that they favoured the college staying in the town centre.

"It crystalised what we thought and we're now confident this is the way forward. People have said this will make the town centre really something special, with a state-of-the-art college next to the new shopping complex at Marriotts Close."

Architects are working on plans for the new buildings, which will be environmentally efficient, with water heated by geothermal technology - using heat from the ground - and windows facing the sun to reduce the need for artificial light.

The college will put forward proposals for funding to the regional Learning and Skills Council in September this year, when it will also submit an outline planning application to the district council.

Construction could start in September next year, and would be phased over four years.

Mr Billcliffe said many of the existing buildings, including temporary classrooms, were past their best.

He said another reason for the expansion was the increase in the number of students.

He said: "More 16-year-olds are realising it's a smart move to stay on. Businesses feel they need to keep their staff's skills up to date, so we have more adult students."

Lesley Semaine, the chairman of Witney Chamber of Commerce, said: "It's wonderful news. It will be a marvellous boost for the town and to the students - and they're the future of the town.

"It makes sense to keep it in the town centre. It's easy for the students to get to and they can shop, work and get lodgings in the town."