A YORK agricultural college could expand if proposals for a £400,000 equine centre get the green light.

Askham Bryan College has submitted proposals for the new centre on its site to City of York Council.

If the plans go ahead, it will be the first time the college has ventured into keeping horses.

Staff say the proposals involve a small centre, but more precise details about the scale of the development will depend on planning decisions made by the council next month.

The proposed centre would be used to train students at the college about all aspects of the equine world.

Students are already offered courses in equine studies, but this new move would save time and reduce other difficulties caused by travelling to external centres for tuition.

College marketing manager Ann Winduss said: "The new development would make the practicalities much more pleasant and convenient for students on equine courses.

"We want to do as much as we can to help our students, and feel this would really benefit them."

The decision will be made on April 11, but the college does not anticipate strong objections to the planned centre.

The development is for a one-storey, fairly traditional building with a pitched roof, with plans already supported by Askham Bryan Parish Council.

After the planning decision has been made, the college will be able to provide more details about the plans.

Ms Winduss said: "Once the decision has been made people are welcome to come down and talk to us, we want them to know they can discuss the plans with Askham Bryan."

There had been a rumoured development that the new equine centre would include the building of an arena for show purposes, which would push the college's investment into the new field of equine development even higher, but these plans have not been confirmed by the college.

However, an application to build a new cow parlour for the use of students at the college has been made to the council.

The building will form part of the equine centre development, and will replace the existing parlour which will be demolished rather than refurbished.

The college is in discussion with the Learning and Skills Council about increasing the number of students on equine-related courses, but for the moment the centre will be used by existing students.

Updated: 10:18 Monday, March 17, 2003