PLANS to build a £70million university in Burnley have moved another step closer after a planning application was submitted for the ambitious project.

As first revealed in the Lancashire Telegraph last year, Burnley College wants to build a new campus in the town, specialising in health and manufacturing.

Now the scheme has moved another step nearer being completed after the college submitted plans to Burnley Council for the development on land off Princess Way and Ashfield Road.

The college was given the go-ahead for the huge project earlier this year after it secured £39million from the Learning and Skills Council to move onto the site of the council's highways depot and household waste recycling centre, and the former Papermarc site.

The council depot and recycling centre would both be moved elsewhere in the town.

The creation of the campus would enable the college to expand and change its name to the University of East Lancashire, and offer more degree courses, while still catering for A-Level students.

The new site would boast: l A University Centre, featuring educational buildings and sports facilities, which would be the responsibility of Burnley College's long-term partner - the University of Central Lancashire.

l A sixth form centre for 1,700 full-time 16 to 19-year- old students.

l A skills and adult centre to provide training in areas like construction.

If planning permission is granted, contractors would be on site by June, and the new campus is planned to open in September, 2009, exactly 100 years after the opening of the current Ormerod Road site of the college, which it will replace.

It is planned that the Ormerod Road site will be developed as a mixed residential area.

Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: "This is great news.

"It is a vote of confidence in Burnley's future, and particularly in the education of young people for generations to come.

"The face of Burnley is changing, and the pace of change is increasing.

"These are exciting times and we will work closely with all our partners to make sure that the final pieces of the jigsaw are put in place and the new college becomes a reality."

Burnley College was unavailable for comment.