BASINGSTOKE College of Technology is staying put – and it is aiming to embark on a £3million revamp that will bring its campus into the 21st century.

The plans, if approved, will see improvements made to the main building on the south side of the campus as well as a complete overhaul of the engineering and industry centre.

BCOT has submitted a planning application to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and residents are being invited to give their views on the proposals as part of a public consultation next week.

Principal Anthony Bravo is hoping the new plans will be welcomed, and will herald a fresh chapter for the college which had to abandon plans to relocate to a new campus on the former Eli Lilly site in Kingsclere Road after funding from the Learning and Skills Council fell through. By that stage, the college had already invested around £1m on the doomed scheme.

Mr Bravo, who became BCOT principal last year, said the latest proposals mark a commitment to stay on the current site in Worting Road.

“These are long-term solutions,” he told The Gazette. “I am not envisaging knocking down these buildings ever.

“We had an opportunity to move, that fell through, and I am now totally committed to the existing site. It is ideally located in the heart of the community, right where a college should be.

“At the end of the day, it means we will have a 21st century environment which will prepare our learners for the 21st century world they are going into.

“We imagine it will cost around £3m. That’s what I have been given and I will be sure to spend it.

“We know the teaching here is excellent. Now we want the buildings to reflect that.”

As part of the improvements, the college’s main building will be given a thorough overhaul to “freshen it up”.

Mr Bravo said the revamp will incorporate green technologies such as solar panels to ensure it is energy-efficient.

The college’s engineering block will also be renovated “from the roof down”. This will allow Basingstoke Engineering Training Association (BETA) – which offers a wide range of vocational courses outside the main campus – to move from its current base in Joule Road.

Mr Bravo said he wants the engineering industry to be seen as a “prestigious route to take.”

“The real purpose is to bring back the passion for engineering,” he continued. “We have a strong tradition with engineering in this town but that seems to be lost slightly. I want to encourage the next John Dyson here – that is my dream.”

Mr Bravo said he is confident that the new proposals will be given the green light.

“These improvements will no doubt benefit the town so I can’t see why they wouldn’t be supported,” he said.

He added that the college has already invested in new IT equipment and will continue to make improvements across the entire campus.

The public consultation runs from 11.30am to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, December 8 on the North site of the Worting Road campus.

Mr Bravo added that any residents who cannot attend can still give their views to the college by calling 01256 354141 or emailing information@bcot.ac.uk.