By Grant Smith, education reporter

DUNDEE COLLEGE is waiting to hear if it can start a £45 million upgrade of its Gardyne Road campus.

City councillors have granted planning permission but college chiefs still need approval of the capital spending plan by the Scottish Funding Council.

They are hoping to hear from the SFC by the end of the month. If they get the thumbs-up, work could start soon on the biggest change since the college was created in 1986 by merging the old college of commerce and technical college.

The planning consent means the building will be given external aluminium cladding, hiding the 1970s concrete walls, while a glass-roofed atrium will allow natural light inside.

Assistant principal Grant Ritchie said, “Despite Gardyne being regarded as a centre of quality education and community activity, it sorely needs modernisation.

“We’re embarking on a £45 million project to transform a good example of 70s architecture into a stunning 21st century building.”

Two sections will be demolished and improvements made to the car park, including work to prevent run-off causing flooding.

Mr Ritchie said facilities including the Gardyne Theatre will remain available to students and the public.

“We very much intend to allow community access to the theatre as well as the swimming pool and sports facilities in much the same way as before,” he said.

Dundee College operates from five sites but this is considered inefficient. The plan is to focus on two bases, Gardyne Road and Kingsway—but it all depends on funding.

Ultimately Gardyne Campus will accommodate 3000 full-time and 15,000 part-time students. It was home to the Northern College of Education but its activities have now been taken over by Dundee University.