Kirklees College could move its Dewsbury base into an iconic council building if a deal is agreed next week.

The council has hatched a plan to make Pioneer House into a new ‘learning village’.

The proposal would enable the college’s delayed expansion plans and would see 1,000 students relocated from the current campus further up Halifax Road.

Pioneer House, a former Co-operative building on the edge of Dewsbury town centre, has been on the council’s portfolio since 2011 after it used a compulsory purchase order to take the property from a negligent landlord who had failed to maintain the Grade II listed property .

It has been partially refurbished thanks to £2m funding from the Lottery and £2.5m from the council, with more work planned.

The latest idea to host students comes after a bid to move the college to the derelict former Safeway supermarket site in Dewsbury collapsed.

Kirklees Council bought the 2.44 acre plot in Bradford Road, next to the Lidl store, in 2008 for a reputed £3m.

READ MORE:Hundreds of staff go on strike as Kirklees College is hit in dispute over pay

READ MORE:Health 'hub' for 10,000 patients planned to replace four 'not fit for purpose' GP surgeries

The deal was meant to secure the site for an expansion of Kirklees College’s Dewsbury site but the college failed in its bid for funding and Kirklees was left with the land and no tenant.

The plot was put back on the market last November.

The council says the 19th century Pioneer House could now be the place for the college to grow.

It will focus on higher level skills, apprenticeships and post-19 studies specialising in creative and digital media and art, healthcare, business and finance, and construction.

READ MORE:What is thundersnow? Watch phenomenon as lightning strikes during snowstorm on the M62 this morning

As part of the wider college proposals, a new 16-18 education village will be developed on Bradford Road for around 1,600 daytime students.

Kirklees Council Cabinet members, Clr Peter McBride and Clr Cathy Scott, welcomed the plans.

Clr Peter McBride, who has responsibility for regeneration and skills, said: “If my colleagues agree to the plans, it is the kickstart to wider regeneration and investment in the town.

Clr Peter McBride

“The building is important in itself – but this also allows other pieces of the jigsaw to fall into place.

“We have made Dewsbury a priority, and our North Kirklees Growth Zone plans to deliver between 7,000 and 7,500 new homes, generating 5,000 new jobs.

“Our skills strategy relies on us having the right opportunities for our young people in the right sectors where we know they can embark on rewarding careers. The partnership with the college will go some way to meeting all these priorities.”

Clr Scott added: “Pioneer is an iconic building that defines the town.

READ MORE:Work is well under way on multi-million revamp of Dewsbury town centre

READ MORE:Kirklees College students to become part of team behind massive Dewsbury Pioneer House restoration project

“This proposal and investment is a statement of our transformational plans for Dewsbury town centre.”

Kirklees College vice principal, Melanie Brooke, said: “If the Cabinet members agree to securing this site for use by Kirklees College, it will be a major step towards achieving our shared goals.

“It would allow the college to upgrade its existing estate and focus on delivering the skills needed for this region.

“We are excited by the prospect of being at the heart of the transformation plans for Dewsbury.“

Kirklees College has bid to the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for further funding towards the exciting plans.

The council’s Cabinet will discuss the proposals at their meeting on Tuesday.