LOWESTOFT college is on the verge of a �870,000 revamp after governors backed plans to modernise areas of the campus.

The nursery, student information centre and hairdressing and beauty salons are all included in proposals which could be completed in 18 months.

The phased work programme will begin with the nursery, which will be located at the front of the campus once a house on the college site is demolished.

It is hoped the new nursery will be open by autumn, and the current nursery will stay open until the work is complete.

The current nursery building looks set to be redesigned to create a student information/advice department.

The building will be at the heart of the campus and the change will make room for more social space outside.

The relocation of the information centre will create more space enabling new hairdressing and beauty salons to be created. The old salons will be converted in to classroom space.

The work is expected to cost somewhere in the region of �870,000.

The College has already set aside �200,000 for the work and has secured �100,000 from the Skills Funding Agency. Meanwhile talks are ongoing with a number of outside agencies to help raise additional sponsorship for the project.

Simon Summers, principal, said: 'Lowestoft College recognises that to equip people with the skills needed for the future it must invest in its campus and provide facilities equal to those found in industry. This is the second phase of the redevelopment and builds on the work completed in 2011.'

This work follows the successful refurbishment of the College's library, canteen, engineering and art and design areas last summer.