£200m vision for college campus

The plans were described as a "massive boost" for Glasgow

Four colleges in Glasgow are to share a new £200m campus in the city centre, it has been announced.

The Central College of Commerce, Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, Glasgow Metropolitan College and Stow College will move in by 2012.

The Scottish Funding Council's Roger McClure said it was the "most ambitious further education project ever seen in the UK let alone Scotland".

The four colleges have about 46,000 students and employ 2,000 staff.

Glasgow's learners can look forward to the most exciting development for generations Colleges statement

The new development will be built on Cathedral and Thistle streets.

It will include an international centre of excellence for maritime studies and new residences for international students.

The colleges have promised world-class city centre vocational education and training with an "unrivalled" range of services and facilities.

An 'ambitious' project

The plans were developed by the colleges and the Scottish Funding Council.

In a statement the colleges described the plans as "welcome and challenging".

It said: "Glasgow's learners can look forward to the most exciting development in education and training in Glasgow and, indeed, Scotland for generations."

Councillor Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, added: "This is a massive boost for education in Glasgow."

The colleges said there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the new shared campus.