MAJOR redevelopment plans were revealed yesterday for a prime edge-of-city site which has served as a teacher training college during the past 80 years.

Planning approval permitting, New College Durham plans to sell off its Nevilles Cross campus and concentrate all college facilities on its Framwellgate Moor site.

The Nevilles Cross site, opened by Durham Education Authority as a teacher training college for women in 1921, is to be redeveloped by The Banks Group in a scheme valued in the region of £25m.

Better known for its mineral extraction and waste management operations nationwide, the County Durham company plans to transform the site for mainly residential use.

Proposals revealed yesterday include the conversion of the two original college buildings, Neville House and Sheraton House.

Neville House will be transformed into 62 apartments, while Sheraton House will be developed into offices, with possible recreational use on the ground floor.

A total of 212 houses, a mix of town and terraced homes, would be built around the rest of the 25-acre site, with new access added, but with a green public open area retained.

Banks Group environmental manager Mark Dowdall, who will oversee the scheme, pledged to involve local people at every stage, starting on Thursday with a public exhibition of the plans at the college.

"We plan to set up a liaison committee involving local residents and local interest groups.

"It's important we fully consult with local people so we can take their views in mind when we take the plans forward."

Mr Dowdall said an existing rugby pitch on the site would be retained as the public open space for whatever use local people prefer to see.

New College principal John Widdowson said the sale of the Nevilles Cross campus would allow the college to develop "excellent modern facilities" on the single site at Framwellgate Moor.

"It's a multi-million pound deal which will allow us to use the proceeds to fund better educational facilities at Fram-wellgate Moor.

"We have an opportunity now to review and enhance our plans for that site."

The public can view the plans at Neville House, New College, on Thursday from 3pm to 7pm.