THIS is the what the first building in a £35million project to create a "world-class" campus at Blackburn College will look like.

College bosses have submitted plans for the first stage of massive regeneration, and it includes a four-storey sixth form and computing centre between Blakey Moor and St Paul's Street, Blackburn.

The building will be developed on what is currently the automotive building and offices inside an old court building.

It will include 18 classrooms and 13 IT rooms, along with staff rooms, offices and link into the existing College of Technology and Design, housed inside the historic Victoria Building, one of Blackburn's best-loved structures. It will be made of brick and metal cladding.

Council bosses are considering the plan, which is funded by the Learning and Skills Council and North West Development Agency.

If approved, other developments will include: l An extension to the Blakey Moor building to form a new entrance and general teaching space. This will include a block housing sports facilities general teaching space, including IT facilities.

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 Victoria Building, will be upgraded.

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

Principal Ian Clinton said: "My vision is to give Blackburn a college of which it can be fully proud, a world-class campus.

"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."