A BASINGSTOKE college is to get a slice of a £400million grant from the Government to carry out improvements to its buildings.

Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) was one of 56 colleges to successfully bid for some of the cash pot. The money will be used to refurbish the oldest part of the campus by installing over-cladding on the South site.

BCoT, in Worting Road, will be given £515,000 towards the £1,546,000 scheme, and has agreed to provide the remaining funds in order to complete the work. The cladding will go on buildings which house The Restaurant and the new science, technology, engineering and maths centre.

The money will come from the Government’s Department for Business Innovation and Skills, through the Skills Funding Agency, and is the third phase of the Enhanced Renewal Grant, which has contributed £330m to colleges in England since May 2010.

BCoT principal Anthony Bravo said: “This is another really exciting development for the college. It provides a professional welcome to members of the public, who use our outstanding Restaurant and salon, and is a continuation of the modern learning that happens within.

“Everyone has been really impressed with the new look that we have given the front of the South site and we know that investing in our facilities has a big impact on our learners.

“The cladding will also reduce heat loss from these buildings. It’s a great time for BCoT and I’m really looking forward to seeing another of our ambitions realised.”

Sparsholt College, in Winchester, has been given £1,913,658 towards a £5.8m project to refurbish its engineering workshops and create a new learning facility for vocational learners. In May this year, all colleges were invited to apply for up to £3m for individual projects, with an expectation that the facilities will be ready to use by September 2014.

The resources are aimed at colleges that have not received significant funding in the recent past. The approved projects were chosen based on criteria including being a benefit to learners, supporting economic growth and being value for money.

At BCoT, the work will be carried out in two phases – the first beginning in July next year and the second in July 2014. The remainder of the work not covered by the grant will come from the college’s reserves. A planning application for the work was approved on November 20.