A COLLEGE campus is to be extended to give more people the chance to go back to “school”.

Bolton Community College’s Brownlow Fold site is to undergo a £850,000 expansion and refurbishment programme to increase the amount of courses it offers.

The Learning and Skills Council is funding 90 per cent of the £850,000 redevelopment work which will expand the centre by 240 square metres.

Three new classrooms will be built together with a main office at the site in Eskrick Street.

The existing building will undergo a complete transformation, housing a craft room and have a modern information communication technology suite.

There will also be a purpose-built teaching kitchen, specifically designed for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

The existing coffee bar will also be extended and refurbished.

Access will be upgraded, ensuring that the entire centre complies with the Disability Discrimination Act and can be used by all members of the community.

The work led to the closure of the centre this week in preparation for development to start next month.

And work on the centre is due to be finished in December, with classes starting again in January next year.

Janet Roe, the College’s area learning and hub manager, said: “This is a very exciting time for everyone at the learning centre.

“The extension and revamp will make the centre is more user friendly, and the additional space and facilities mean we can extend our learning provision in the community by adding even more classes to the timetable and accommodating new students.”

She added: “While work is under way, all classes have been relocated to various centres throughout Bolton so that learners can continue with their chosen course.

“I am looking forward to welcoming learners back to the new-look centre in the New Year.”

The cash from the Learning and Skills Council comes months after it gave the green light to a new £90 million joint campus for Bolton Community College and Bolton Sixth Form off Deane Road, Bolton.