A DREAM to create a college of the future is expected to start to become reality next week.

Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee are being asked to approve demolition of "obsolete'' college buildings on the town's Redcar Lane and redevelopment of the land for housing.

Money from the sale would help pay for a £15m redevelopment of Redcar and Cleveland College's main site, in Corporation Road, Redcar.

The college at present operates on two sites, Corporation Road and Redcar Lane, which it wants to dispose of.

College principal Alan Old and his governors say both centres are obsolete, ill-equipped and expensive to heat. The Redcar Lane site only operates at 50 per cent capacity.

A virtually new college building, planned for Corporation Road, would include facilities for visual and performing arts, hairdressing and beauty therapy, sport and recreation, computing and construction.

A library, cafeteria and student support area would also be part of the new-build.

There will also be a sports hall and all-weather pitch.

Planning officers are recommending councillors approve demolition and residential use for Redcar Lane, once the site is cleared.