LSC approves £40m funding for two more colleges

The Learning and Skills Council has approved £40m funding to get two more stalled further education college schemes off the ground.

The LSC, which earlier this month confirmed funding for 12 out of the more than 150 schemes stalled since it put a moratorium on spending in January, said it was now putting money in to Manchester College's Brownley Road campus and a new Skelmersdale campus for the Lancashire, Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College.

The LSC is to spend £7.1m on the £27.5m Manchester scheme, and spend £32.6m on the £42.8m Skelmersdale campus.

LSC chief executive, Geoff Russell, said the projects would provide the new, modern education facilities needed in both areas. He said: "Confirmation of these projects completes the first phase of the major review of college capital funding that the LSC has been conducting for almost a year.

"The LSC will now turn its attention to how future funding can achieve the greatest impact for learners and employers."