The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has approved two new Further Education college capital projects for Manchester and Lancashire.

The decision follows the LSC announcement on 1 September 2009 about other college capital projects. Approval was given after the two projects had value for money and cost reduction reviews.

Manchester College will be revitalising its campus on Brownley Road, Wythenshawe to improve its vocational and sixth form facilities. The project is the final phase of the College’s redevelopment scheme. The total cost of the project is £27.5m and the LSC will contribute £7.038m.

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Lancashire, Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College, now part of Newcastle College, will create a new campus that will place learning at the centre of Skelmersdale. The new college will be central to the town’s redevelopment. The total project cost is £42.8m and the LSC will contribute £32.6m.

LSC Chief Executive, Geoff Russell, said: "I am pleased to be able to confirm the projects for Manchester and Skelmersdale. Both projects will provide new, modern education facilities needed in both areas, and both projects will be major investments for their communities.

"Confirmation of these projects completes the first phase of the major review of college capital funding that the LSC has been conducting for almost a year. We have managed the difficult task of investing limited funds for the projects that will meet the highest level of needs, as recommended by Sir Andrew Foster’s review. I am grateful for the support of our partners in ensuring the review was successful. The LSC will now turn its attention to how future funding can achieve the greatest impact for learners and employers."

(CD/KMcA)