A NEW £16.5 million college campus will provide the very best facilities for students and the people of Pendle, the man behind the scheme has said.

Nelson and Colne College's deputy principal John Farrington made the declaration as he announced building work should start in November.

Architects and civil engineers are putting the finishing touches and costings to the huge project, which will be presented to the college's board at the end of October.

If approved, building work should start within a week.

Mr Farrington said that when completed, the new campus off Scotland Road, Barrowford, would not only benefit students but the borough as a whole.

He said: "It is a really exciting project and we are looking at state-of-the-art facilities which will stand the college in good stead for at least the next decade.

"It will provide really excellent facilities for further education and the local community."

Building work will take place in two phases. A new sixth-form centre and sports hall will be built behind existing buildings and is due to be finished by next September ready for the new academic year.

A landmark building on the college's lawn will house creative arts, music and dance studios as well as hair and beauty salons. That and a refurbishment of the present buildings should be completed by September 2008.

The college's Barrowford Road site will be sold but it will keep the playing fields.

Mr Farrington said the college was in advanced talks with Nelson-based Barnfield Construction about selling the land for property development.

He added that the sale of the Barrowford Road site would help finance the development for which almost half of the cash had been secured from the Learning and Skills Council.

Mr Farrington said: "We are hopeful that the final costings and designs come back within budget and that the board can give the go-ahead."