Glasgow super-college has £200m campus project approved

Scotland's largest college is to develop a new super campus in Glasgow after £200m in funding was approved.

City of Glasgow College was formed last year through the merger of Central, Metropolitan and Nautical Colleges.

The new campus - for more than 40,000 students and 1,200 staff - will be based around the existing Cathedral Street and Thistle Street sites.

The Scottish Funding Council is contributing £193m to the project, with £5.67m coming from the college.

College principal Paul Little said: "This is a very welcome announcement as well as a strong vote of confidence in the new college from the Scottish government, especially at this time of significant reform within the college sector.

"The City of Glasgow College has the capacity to significantly boost the life chances of tens of thousands of students and make a major contribution to the economy of both Glasgow and Scotland.

"I'm extremely pleased and privileged to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime project."

Education Secretary Michael Russell said: "Planning for the new buildings has been in the pipeline since three colleges in the city merged last year and I am very pleased to be able to commit to providing up to £193m.

"Students and staff alike will relish being based in buildings of the highest quality and I look forward to hearing about how the new campus is coming together."