FIFE COLLEGE has finally secured funding of £90 million to build a new Dunfermline campus after nearly five years of waiting.

The cash has come as part of plans for a new shared learning campus with Woodmill and St Columba's high schools.

A new campus could be ready by the end of 2024.

The Scottish Government first pledged a new college facility in October 2014 and a preferred site was chosen – the old Hyundai site in Halbeath – with outline planning permission obtained two years later for a £90m facility.

The campus was to open this summer originally but the proposed funding mechanism changed and the money never materialised.

There was then a clear indication from the Scottish Government that the college and Fife Council should work together to seek funding through a different route, with a shared learning facility in mind.

On hearing the news that the college had finally been given the money it needed, principal Hugh Hall told the Press he was "delighted".

He sat down with reporter Gemma Ryder to share his hopes for the future.

"We were first told we were going to get a new college in 2014 so it's great to see it now coming through," Hugh said.

"Now that we have certainty on the funding, we can set about agreeing timescales for the delivery of this large and groundbreaking project.

"A major consideration and priority for the development will be the Woodmill HS component given that they are dislocated by the fire."

Hugh previously feared that a new college would be financed through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI)-type deal which would make the cost significantly higher.

Last year, he called on the Scottish Government to "do the right thing" and resolve the financial impasse.

He added: "We originally thought it would be funded through a PFI model but as we're getting a complete grant I think we will be able to move much quicker. The money is there so there'll be no delays.

"It's good to have that certainty and it makes it much more straightforward from a contract and procurement point of view."

Both the college and council have been working together alongside the Scottish Government to progress the ambitious project.

Hugh believes it will be transformational for Scottish education.

"It is a potential game-changer for how we can deliver education in Scotland," he said.

"I am keen to have a university component there and that we will be able to break down the barriers around the perceptions of college and university.

"You should be able to do a HND and HNC at college or school and complete your first year of university here.

"I believe we can have more cohesion between teachers, college teachers and university lecturers.

"We can look to see how we can co-programme and co-deliver for learner and industry needs.

"It will take some of the educational learning that is repeated and will get young people in employment much quicker.

"That's good for them because they'll have pay in their pocket and good for the economy.

"If we can get that right it will be marvellous.

"Now we have the task of seeing how we design and deliver that.

"I know there have been concerns about young pupils mixing with college students but we will absolutely make sure there are safeguards in place.

"We'll be in separate buildings but a joint campus allows us to be more creative."

Hugh wants the campus to be a place where everyone in the community can come, with academics, learners and industry all meeting together.

He added: "We need to understand how we can share our knowledge so students can get the skills they need.

"A total of 6,000 students is about what we're looking at but I hope that we can also increase our provision.

"It will take a little bit of joined-up thinking which I have already seen happening with S5 Woodmill pupils studying at Fife College the last week.

"It's already opening up opportunities.

"We also see a lot more schools coming to us to deliver programmes now.

"Sometimes I think we can be guilty of just focusing on our own organisations but we need to learn how to collaborate.

"We share the same philosophy and the same goals."

The prospect of a joint campus was not welcomed by Hugh back in early 2018 and the college had to push on with working with partners to secure much-needed investment in a Dunfermline campus.

"We got the green the light for a new campus in 2014 and our concern was how a complex arrangement would slow down the whole process," he explained.

"But I think we've seen that everyone wants to do this as soon as possible.

"Hopefully, it will spur everyone on.

"We are delighted to work with Fife Council and we should be able to do something innovative as long as it moves quickly.

"However, there has been a lot of groundwork already done."