PLANS to create a new healthcare college in the grounds of Bolton hospital will be decided in the coming weeks.

Bolton College of Medical Sciences would be a four and five-storey building with a nearby three-storey carpark with landscaped grounds and outdoor area.

The college would be a training and learning centre giving people a new career path into healthcare and also giving the hospital the opportunity to train up its existing staff in new skills.

It is expected to train 3,000 students a year, including hospital staff.

The plans were submitted to the council on April 1 and the statutory consultation finished on May 5.

Councillors are expected to debate the plans at their next planning committee meeting on Thursday, June 27.

The college is being brought to life through joint work from the hospital, Bolton Council and lead partner Bolton College with £10 million of funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority which was secured last month.

READ MORE: Bolton College of Medical Sciences secures funding

Bill Webster, principal of Bolton College, said: "BCMS aims to become a model for the future of healthcare skills and training development in the region and beyond.

"Bolton has a proud record of doing things differently and this innovative project will transform access to education and employment in the healthcare sector for local people and beyond.

"It will create thousands of new jobs and apprenticeships to alleviate the pressures on the local NHS workforce and improve healthcare provision."