By Paul Camillin

In the coming week, Albion fans have the opportunity to show their support for Brighton & Hove City College's proposed new campus at the club's new stadium at Falmer.

As supporters may already be aware, the plans for the new stadium include an area beneath the east stand which has been set aside for educational use.

The space has already been earmarked for City College to provide further and higher education courses in construction, electrical engineering, sport, health, public services and care, and journalism.

In discussion with City College we have further developed these plans to include a separate building which replaces the chalk Bund to the north east of the stadium. The College will contribute to those elements of the stadium infrastructure and facilities which it will share. This is cost effective for both the stadium and the College.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is investing £750m a year up to 2011 to improve the Further education estate nationally. Therefore City College has a once in a generation opportunity to bid for funding to build a college that will transform

The College will shortly be submitting its funding application and plans to the LSC for the first two campuses (North and South). A decision is likely in June 2009.

The College will ask the LSC to fund around £75 million of the first phase of the plans, which will cost around £90 million. The remainder will come from College funds and the sale of its property and land.

As part of this proposed development and investment, the College will have a second major campus at the new Community Stadium harnessing the power of sport and the presence of many visiting sports fans to attract people into education.

As part of the pre planning application process the college is holding a number of public consultations on the proposed new City College Campus at Falmer and other redevelopment issues including a proposed revamp of the existing Pelham Street Campus and two new additional Skills Centres in Brighton.

The consultation forums will take place at the Brighthelm Auditorium, North Road, Brighton, tomorrow, Friday April 25th from noon until 6.30pm and on Saturday April 26th from 10am until 4pm.

Then a second set of forums the following weekend in the North Hall at Falmer High School on Friday May 2nd from noon until 6.30pm and on Saturday May 3rd from 10am until 4pm.

Please make every effort to attend one of these consultation events and register your support for the college's proposals, which will significantly enhance the overall offer at the Community Stadium.

Click here to download a leaflet containing more details of the development.