DUDLEY College has revealed ambitious plans for a new £12m centre to provide training for the construction industry.

The college’s proposed Centre for Advanced Building Technologies and Construction Skills (CABTech) has the backing of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which has included the project in its bid for £56m to support the Black Country Strategic Economic Plan.

The LEP has submitted a bid for government cash from the Local Growth Fund to develop training and new business in the region.

Dudley College principal, Lowell Williams, said: “Our ambition to support the recovery of the construction industry in this country is driving this exciting new addition to the Learning Quarter.

“With construction being recognised by the UK government as one of the ten key sectors driving economic recovery it’s imperative that current and future workforces are trained and ready to meet the challenges the economic up-turn will bring.

“Our plans to develop a centre that can provide modern and progressive training for an industry that has relied on traditional training routes and methods will help to increase employment across the sector, which is fantastic news for all.”

If the bid is successful work on the new centre, which will teach high-tech design as well as traditional building skills, is planned to begin September 2015, with the centre being open to students spring 2017.

Construction of the new centre would push the college’s investment in Dudley town centre over £50m.