BOSSES of East Riding College say the controversial site at Flemingate is still their preferred option for relocating its Beverley campus, despite the major question mark over the future of the land.
Redevelopment plans for the huge Flemingate site - which include a hotel, shops, houses, multi-storey car park and a new home for the college - have been thrown back into the melting pot since the Government decided to 'call in' the planning applicat
ion, together with the retail park planned for Grovehill Road.
Both multi-million pound schemes are now to be the subject of a joint public inquiry.
The college is now looking at possible alternative sites in the town, but says it would still prefer to move to the Flemingate site if possible.
Director of resources John Doris said: "Though it is true the college is looking at possible alternative sites in Beverley, Flemingate remains our preferred option. We continue to work with the developers behind the Flemingate redevelopment to prepare our case for the forthcoming public inquiry into the proposals."
Last year the college got the green light for a £40m transformation which would include the relocation of its Beverley campus.
He college's funding body, the Learning and Skills Council, approved the investment programme for new accommodation at the college's Beverley and Bridlington sites.
The college had hoped to move from its existing Gallows Lane site in Beverley during summer 2010 and multi-million pound plans were unveiled to redevelop the present college site with luxury housing.
Mr Doris added: "Peter Ward Homes and Wright Homes are our joint developers for the Gallows Lane site, which has outline planning permission for residential development, and this is still the case.
"We remain determined to build a state-of-the art campus in Beverley to complement our £17m new development which is now being built in Bridlington."
