COLEG Gwent has announced a multi-million pound scheme that will see an transformation of its six campuses over the next ten years.

The college's Estates Strategy will invest a total of around £110 million in its buildings between now and 2015, meaning greatly improved facilities for staff and students.

The college has campuses throughout Monmouthshire and Torfaen in Usk, Abergavenny, Ponty-pool, Monmouth and Cwmbran.

If the preferred options for the future of the college's buildings can be realised, learners will benefit from some brand new campuses and vast improvements to other existing campuses.

The strategy, approved by the college's Corporation when it met on February 2, contains a number of proposals for how the quality and efficiency of the six campuses will be transformed.

By pressing ahead with the Estates Strategy, the college hopes to dispose of land and buildings that are not being used, make sure that all of the remaining space is used to its fullest potential, and save money on future maintenance of the estate, which currently looks set to cost up to £42 million in the next decade.

The £110 million needed to achieve the proposals will be accessed from internal funds, external grant funding and assets from unwanted land and buildings.

The college and corporation are confident that the estates strategy can be realised without any impact on the financial stability of the college or the services offered to learners.

The developments will take place in four phases taking place between 2006 and 2015, beginning with Cross Keys, Usk and the Motor Vehicle Centre, and ending with Pontypool.

Howard Burton, principal and chief executive of Coleg Gwent, said: "The new-look College estate will be accessible, inviting and inspiring and will provide an environment in which learners and staff can work together effectively and efficiently."