MID-CHESHIRE College’s £10m flagship Learning Zone in Winsford will be open within a year, contractors say.

Pochins is in the process of erecting the steel shell for the building and college bosses are confident they will take it over at the end of April, 2010.

The centre, on Weaver Street, will offer high-quality facilities for young people in vocational subjects including beauty therapy, hairdressing, public services and ICT and will also be used to house some of the academic subjects from the Winsford joint sixth form.

The Learning Zone will also offer 14 to 16-year-olds the opportunity to study for vocational qualifications during their last two years at school and act as a centre for adult education.

College principal John Reilly said: “The new centre will be a huge boost for lifelong learning in Winsford. Our current accommodation in the town is now looking very tired and we want our staff and students to work and learn in the very best facilities we can build.”