A sixth form college is set to undergo a £34 million revamp.

The principal of Varndean College has unveiled ambitious plans to knock down almost all of its buildings in Surrenden Road, Brighton, and replace them with modern facilities capable of housing more than 1,600 pupils.

All that would be kept of the existing college would be the historic front half of the main building overlooking the Surrenden campus and the quadrangles and cloisters immediately behind.

Principal Phil Harland said: "We have a one-off opportunity to transform this college into a facility for the future. We are determined to make sure we do the job well."

He said Varndean had submitted a funding application to the Government's Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

The body is in the middle of a programme of investment which has sparked a regeneration of further education in Sussex.

More than £135 million is expected to be spent on the three colleges in Brighton.

City College Brighton and Hove has announced plans for an £80 million redevelopment of its campuses in Pelham Street and Wilson Avenue and Brighton, Hove and Sussex VI College (BHASVIC) has proposed a £25 million scheme to modernise its site in Dyke Road.

Mr Harland said the proposals for Varndean would provide modern teaching spaces and facilities for all subjects.

They include a new sports hall and a drama studio, which will open into a quadrangle and dark rooms and rehearsal rooms which will be be insulated by being dug into the hill around the college.

Varndean will introduce the International Baccalaureate next year and wants to extend the courses it runs for adults and teenagers who have not gained the GCSE grades they need to start A-levels.

Mr Harland said: "What we have here is good but it is out-dated. The college was built in 1931 and had bits added to it over the years which means some of the facilities are not ideal. Some of the rooms are too small and we have quite a lot of classes taught in temporary huts. Students expect better now."

The new building would be set into the contours of the hill and designed to minimise impact on the surrounding area.

Mr Harland said its footprint was only slightly larger than the current site. The cluster of huts at the rear of the college and the Hutchins wing would be demolished to make way for the new buildings but no playing fields would be lost.

If it is given the go-ahead it would be built in stages, starting in June 2008 and be completed by 2010.

Mr Harland said sustainability was one of the key priorities in the design brief.

The plans include an extension to the Downs View Link College on the same site, which provides education and care for 16 to 19-year-olds with physical and mental disabilities. A new block, including a gym and hydrotherapy pool, would provide for up to 100 under 25s with severe learning difficulties and disabilities.

Facilities like the drama studio would be shared between the colleges.

Varndean has begun a consultation with residents and will be hosting a series of open days in early June.

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