West Cheshire College’ s plans for a futuristic landmark redevelopment on part of the Handbridge campus are recommended for approval.
The application on the Green Belt site is due to considered at a meeting of the City's planning board on Wednesday.
It is part of the college’s £70m new building programme in Chester and Ellesmere Port.
to provide 21st century learning opportunities for its 20,000 students.
The recommendation comes after plans for a city centre campus on the Northgate Avenue car park with housing development at Eaton Road were rejected by the City Council after heated objections.
Following that decision, a strategic task force was set up to steer the redevelopment.
Sheffield based architect Mr James Pemberton told the planning board at an earlier stage the technology campus, in an attractive parkland setting, will provide science, engineering and maths facilities.
It has been designed with a practical, vocational curriculum in mind as the existing classroom based accommodation is unsuitable.
The first phase of the scheme involves the demolition of the three storey building at the front of the Eaton Road campus which will be replaced by the new facilities.
The number of parking spaces will be halved to 200, reflecting the reduction in the number of students and staff who will attend the campus.
There will be 264 cycle spaces.
The application is supported by the Chester Locality Board, Chester Business Club and the West Cheshire Association of Secondary Heads according to a report.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England believes the development fails to recognise the site is located in the Green Belt in an area of designated green space.
The sole objection has come from Handbridge Residents Council which says it is concerned about future development on other parts of the site, development in the Green Belt and the lack of a health centre.
Councillors will be told the Learning and Skills Council has said the college must improve the standard of its accommodation and replace dilapidated buildings.
