A NEW £10 million national motorsport centre will be built at the University of Bolton.

Bolton Council has approved outline plans for the university to build its National Centre for Motorsport and Engineering in Deane Road.

The three-storey building will reach a height of 13 metres and cover a footprint of 1535sqm.

It is thought that 550 students and 30 staff will occupy the new state-of-the-art building — which will replace the university’s current Centre for Advanced Performance Engineering.

The latest agreement means the first phase of building work on the flagship new centre can begin.

Permission has already been given for the overall scheme — which also includes plans with Bolton Sixth Form College for a new sports hall and 3G pitch.

The design includes an open forecourt where ‘super cars’ will be on display as well as a ‘boulevard’ area, which can be divided up with partitions to resemble a pit-stop scenario.

The design statement reads: “The Boulevard sits parallel to The Showroom and varying transparencies along the boundary of the two spaces creates ‘peep holes’ to the behind-the-scenes engineering of these exquisite vehicles on display.

“At one end of The Boulevard a sliding wall partition opens up to create a physical interaction between the show space and the workspace for events.”

These working spaces will stack upwards and stagger to create a “dynamic triple height void” which will give an opportunity for an innovative vertical display.

A “dramatic glazed corner” will frame the different cars displayed on podiums and plinths at different heights, with views into the showroom available from all areas of the building, aided by a large circular skylight and a feature staircase.

A University of Bolton spokesman said: “Students studying Advanced Performance Engineering will have access to the best and most contemporary equipment in a purpose built environment.

"This will further cement the University of Bolton as a leader in Advanced Performance Engineering, and make it a hugely desirable prospect to potential students.

Council officers have insisted that prior to work beginning, the University must provide certain information — including details of any highways works being carried out as part of the development.