AN ambitious multi-million pound design and technology centre is being planned by the University of Central Lancashire.

The Preston-based university is planning to start demolishing the buildings close to their existing campus and Students' Union off Fylde Road.

And bosses are now waiting to hear how much they will be given in building grants from funding authorities.

They are pencilling in a building project which will cost between three and six million pounds.

The new plans follow hot on the heels of the opening of the Greenbank campus, which houses departments such as journalism in line with the university's long-term ambitions.

A UCLa spokesman said: "We will not be able to go ahead with the building itself until we know whether or not we have been successful with the grant applications we have made.

"Three designs are currently being worked on but we won't know which one we will be working off until we know what funds are available.

"We are looking at a two or three storey building which will house the engineering and product design department."

It is hoped the building will be up and running in time for the start of the 2001-02 academic year.

The spokesman added: "The new building won't be anything like our other buildings but it will stick to our commitment to create appealing locations for our departments."

The university's new vice-chancellor Dr Malcolm McVicar added: "We have identified the academic areas most in need of investment and this new project is a reflection of that."

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