A BASINGSTOKE college planning a £32million redevelopment is preparing to make a final push for project funding.

Since receiving outline planning permission last October, bosses at Queen Mary's College, in Cliddesden Road, have been working on detailed plans for a new science block.

It is the first phase of the redevelopment that will rid the campus of most of its 1950s buildings.

Principal Stephen Sheedy said the college would meet the regional board of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) later this month to put the case for the funding needed to pay for much of the redevelopment.

If that presentation and a subsequent meeting with the LSC's national board is successful, the college hopes to get building work under way quickly so the new block will be ready to open to students in September 2009.

Mr Sheedy, who is optimistic about making progress on the project, said: "I'd be very disappointed if there's an issue with the LSC funding the project.

"All the indications are that the money is available from central government.

"This will be magnificent and the people of Basingstoke deserve it."

Once the science block is created, it would create the teaching space to allow some of the other buildings to be demolished to make way for subsequent phases of the development.

Mr Sheedy said phase two would create a new teaching block with improved performing arts facilities. The third phase would add a new library building and the final phase would involve remodelling the remaining buildings for other uses.