PLANS for a £100m super-college in Nottingham have been put on ice.

About 50,000 students would have attended the college which was set to open in January following the merger of Castle College, New College Nottingham and South Nottingham College.

But negotiations have taken longer than expected and the colleges are struggling to hit deadlines to apply for Learning and Skills Council cash to create the super-college.

The Evening Post understands bosses have admitted the 2009 deadline set for the project was ambitious.

The colleges officially approved the merger in April, but had been holding secret talks for months before.

The super-college would have had £100m to spend on redevelopment work and courses and facilities for students.

A "central hub" would have been created at Castle College's Maid Marian Way campus, along with satellite sites at Basford Hall, Carlton Road, Beeston and Rushcliffe.

The Learning and Skills Council would have provided 70% of the cash and the colleges would have had to generate the rest.

The new institution would have been a flagship to compete with the best colleges in Manchester, London and Leeds.

It is understood that Castle College pulled away from the merger plans but says it remains committed to a single further education college.

A joint statement is expected today from the principals of the three colleges, Nick Lewis, Geoff Hall and Mal Cowgill.

michael.greenwell@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk