AN ambitious £8 million building programme was officially launched at a college today.

The High Sheriff of Lancashire, Rodney Swarbrick, started the ball rolling on phase one of the three phase major building project at Accrington and Rossendale College.

The aim is to concentrate students currently based at satellite buildings on the college's main site in Sandy Lane, Accrington.

The first phase will provide a purpose-built workshop block for the college's renowned construction motor vehicle and other trades department. The college is recognised as a national leader in construction training.

College principal Michael Austin (pictured) said the project would boost education and training opportunities across East Lancashire and for local people in particular.

The new workshop block will house more than 1,000 students, many of whom train at rented premises in Eagle Street, Accrington. Others who are already on the Sandy Lane site will also move into the new building.

"It will allow us to move students out of Eagle Street which although it is a wonderful facility, it is expensive to rent and we don't own it," said Mr Austin.

"We're absolutely bursting at the seams at Eagle Street. The move is part of an overall strategy for the college to use buildings we own rather than rent and to concentrate our departments on fewer sites."

The new workshop will be paid for by a grant from the Further Education Funding Council, which will cover around one third of the £5 million cost, and the rest by a bank loan. "We are really excited about these plans," said Mr Austin. "The governors are equally enthusiastic and they recognise that students will benefit from these imaginative proposals. A well-designed, modern building will itself be an asset to the community. This is a long-term investment in the future of East Lancashire.

"The whole community will benefit from the improved facilities which will be open to all.

"It's one of those things that when you've done it you wonder how you every managed before."

The workshop is due for completion by August in time for the new academic year. Mr Austin said it would tie in with the work of the new Learning and Skills Council in Lancashire which will be responsible for training and post-16 education. The Council will be launched in April.

Further phases include demolishing the engineering block and remodelling the central part of the college to create new space for performing arts, media and arts students. The second and third phases of the project will start once the workshop is completed and the whole programme is expected to be finished by 2003.

The college said it would keep disruption to students to a minimum while the work goes ahead.