BLACKBURN College is in line for a £35million revamp to transform it into a 'world class campus' within four years.

The multi-million pound proposal has been prompted by governors who want the college to "meet the educational challenges of the future".

Today principal Ian Clinton said: "My vision is to give Blackburn a college of which it can be fully proud.

"It will help us deliver a top-quality experience for students in line with their changing needs and will ensure we continue to achieve the high educational standards, which have ranked us among the best in the country."

If given the green light, the revamp - expected to cost between £25million and £35million - would involve four separate phases including:

l The creation of a new purpose-built sixth form centre of excellence at the rear of the Victoria Building. It would involve the demolition of the old Courts building and automotive workshop.

l An extension to the Blakey Moor building to form a new entrance and general teaching space. This will include a new block housing sports facilities and general teaching space, including IT facilities. It would include the demolition of the Nab Lane building.

l A new Higher Education Centre which would involve the part demolition of Feilden Street.

l A new Gateway Building with reception, library and learn centre, student services, refectory and teaching areas. The remainder of the Feilden Street buildings will go as part of the fourth and final phase.

Current buildings, including the original Victoria Building, will be upgraded as part of the project. The new buildings could become a focal point for the town, providing a "Gateway" to the campus.

A students' mall is envisaged in the new "Gateway" building and a pedestrianised area is also envisaged for St Paul's Street to improve accessibility.

The masterplan would reduce the College's estate from around 49,000 square metres to around 38,000 in a bid to give the college greater efficiency and flexibility for the 16,500 campus-based students.

Council leaders have welcomed the development and believe it will complement existing regeneration work, improve skills, create jobs and boost the East Lancashire economy as a whole.

Governors are expected to give the initial plan the thumbs up when they meet in October and work, subject to relevant permissions and funding, could start as soon as next summer.

The college hopes to secure funding from agencies like the Learning and Skills Council and the North West Regional Development Agency and further funds could come from selling three pieces of land, totalling around 2.4 acres on Duke Street site and the Feilden Street site.

The college announced it was scrapping the bulk of its non-vocational course provision as from September but vice-principal Chris Osbourne stressed the funding for this scheme comes out of "separate pot".

He added: "We hope to growth in the future and the modern campus will be more attractive to students and attract more to the college. And yes we hope more lecturers."

Council leader Kate Hollern said: "The council has worked with the college for some time on this proposal and it is very much in line with the town masterplan. We welcome the investment as an additional sign of the improvements and confidence in Blackburn town centre."

Council-led town centre improvements include a new £30million leisure complex behind Blackburn railway station and 500 new homes.

Executive director for regeneration Graham Burgess said: "This will create extra jobs in the town centre and more students means more shopping - it is an upward spiral."

Steve Palmer, executive director of the Learning and Skills Council in Lancashire, said: "We are aware that the college is now reviewing future plans for further campus development and we will be discussing these with them in the near future."

The college stress nothing is set in stone and are seeking feedback on the plans and views can be emailed to masterplan@blackburn.ac.uk.