A MODEL showing how York College's proposed £50 million new home could look was unveiled today.

Plans for the building have been submitted to City of York Counci - and the Learning and Skills Council looks set to contribute £15 million towards the cost.

The remaining £35 million will come from money raised from the sale of the college's existing site near the Tesco roundabout.

An outline application to build more than 300 new homes on that site will be submitted to the council within the next few weeks.

The new college building would be constructed on the former sixth form college site in Sim Balk Lane, with the site, which is on the important south-western gateway to the city carefully landscaped.

College principal Mike Galloway said today the proposals presented the city with a "win-win situation".

He said: "York gets a new college, with all the benefits that brings for the social and economic wellbeing of the city.

"At the same time, we make available a major brownfield site to provide much-needed new homes and alleviate pressure to build houses on York's precious green belt."

Mr Galloway said the project, one of the biggest of its kind in the country, included a nursery, car, cycle and motorcycling parking and a dedicated bus lane within the campus, allowing direct access for students and staff.

The college hopes the project will win approval at a planning committee meeting in June.

If the scheme gains council backing, the new college could be operational in September, 2007.

Updated: 14:33 Thursday, February 05, 2004