PLANS for a £15m college development have been announced.

Redcar and Cleveland College in Corporation Road, Redcar will be transformed by the investment. The project will include facilities for visual and performing arts, hairdressing and beauty therapy, sport and recreation, computing and construction.

Existing buildings will be enhanced to match the new-look building. The library, cafeteria and student support area will also be part of the new build.

A significant feature will be the addition of a sports hall and all- weather pitch.

The college has submitted a capital funding application to the Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley and will also be using funds from commercial lenders and rationalisation of other assets to complete the development.

As part of the rationalisation process, the college's Connections Campus, in Redcar Lane, will be vacated and all work will be transferred to the new buildings in Corporation Road.

The college is to dispose of the site and will be making a planning application for its development.

Chairman of the board Graham Hillier said: "We have announced plans for a college that will become one of the best learning institutions in the North of England."

College principal Alan Old, added: "The process is expected to take 30 months to complete but once finished, Redcar and Cleveland will have twenty-first century college facilities."

The college is planning to introduce virtual learning in a number of key departments.

The Virtual Learning Environment was piloted last year in the computing department and is due to be applied to other departments including travel and tourism, business studies, construction and health & social care.

A Virtual Learning Environment includes various software which manages online learning.