BLACKBURN College’s plan to create a new multi-million building to ‘redefine’ its campus looks set to be given the go-ahead.

Bosses have submitted detailed plans for a new ‘core building’ as part of the ‘world class’ campus it is looking to create.

The application is earmarked for approval by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Planning committee when it next meets on June 17.

Plans for the building were scaled down after bosses were forced to secure funding from elsewhere when the Learning Skills Council announced funding cuts last year.

Bosses estimate the cost of the new building be between £13 and £16 million.

A waste ground and car park between St Paul’s Street and Nab Lane will be the site of the core building, if it goes ahead.

The five-storey 8,678sqm development will include class-rooms and exhibition space.

In the application it says: “The site of the core building has been chosen to achieve all the college’s aspirations with regard to their development programme and is considered to be the only one available that can support the accommodation requirements of the college without harmfully impacting on its organisational and teaching requirements.

“The other major intention for the building in this location is to provide a clear landmark to redefine the campus which could potentially be considered to be rather fragmented at present.”

It follows a new 6th form centre, computing and IT suite in the St Paul’s Centre and a University Centre, off Barbara Castle Way, which opened in September.