THE full transformation of Witney's college campus in a £28m redevelopment is likely to be at least three-and-a-half years away.

The timetable for the scheme was revealed as Abingdon and Witney College released public consultation details, with the first of two meetings taking place on October 30.

The trickiest part of the project will be to maintain facilities for the 1,600 full-time and 5,000 part-time students on the site while demolition and building work goes ahead.

Sue Webb, the project director, said: "Keeping everything going is to be our challenge. Eventually, there will be about 300sq m extra of space in the new buildings and we will be taking on totally new courses here.

"But the aim is to keep all our students here, apart from severely disabled students, by juggling things around. It will involve temporary accommodation."

The scheme depends on financial backing from the Government's Learning and Skills Council.

The college is hoping to receive 85 per cent of the cost, with the rest largely coming from a bank loan. It expects the council to respond by January next year.

A planning application would then be submitted to the district council, with the hope of starting work on site by December next year, with phase one ready to open by March 2010.

This would be followed by the rebuilding of A Block, from April to December 2010, with the final phase finished by June 2011.

The consultation meetings will be held at the campus lecture theatre at 6pm. The first is on October 30, aimed mainly at members of the public. The second is on Tuesday, November 6, primarily for businesses in the town.