Bolton College has announced expansion plans to increase the number of students and to offer more courses.

The Deane Road campus has had its three storey building plans approved.

The new block will will include seven new classrooms, two more workshops, two extra staff areas, two more one on one meeting places as well as storage plants and toilets.

It will be used to teach engineering and digital skills.

The plans have been approved by Bolton Council and took a step further recently as the college had put forward documents showing it has met the conditions on the materials required for the proposals.

Deputy Principal Mark Burgoyne explained why the college was expanding with a new building.

He said: “Due to increasing students and curricula that requires more teaching and learning hours, the college requires more specialist teaching spaces with high levels of technical equipment.

“The new extension will house the college micro engineering and digital delivery which will aim to create a dynamic working environment.”

He added: “The college does have increasing numbers and we are working have to stay abreast of the new emerging T levels, which require high technical learning environments.”

He also spoke about what the college hoped to achieve with the expansion.

He said: “We will continue to develop our newest Level 3 offer which keeps the college in line with national qualification developments.

“This will further assist learners achieving technical qualifications whilst providing routes through to higher education for those that want a vocational route.”

The college offers vocational training and further education.

It offers more than 400 courses for adults above the age of 18.

The spot where the development will take place has previously been used by both the college and the sixth form college.

It has also been used for parking.

The college stated when it applied for planning permission that the materials used would be in keeping with the surrounding architecture.