DEWSBURY MP Shahid Malik has expressed his delight at the go-ahead for Kirklees College.

The MP welcomed the announcement that Kirklees College is to receive an £85m funding boost from the Learning and Skills Council, one of only 12 such grants offered across England.

In March, the MP led a delegation including Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan, deputy leader Kath Pinnock, College Principal Chris Saddler and Kirklees Director of Regeneration Ken Gillespie to London for a meeting with Further Education Minister Sion Simon.

There had been concerns the college plan – and subsequent Waterfront regeneration scheme – would falter because of the funding crisis facing the Skills Council.

Mr Malik said: “I was very pleased to be able to use my position to secure a meeting with the FE Minister and subsequently to lobby for this much needed funding.

“This is a tremendous boost not just for education in our area but also for regeneration.

“This is a fitting outcome for everyone involved, and in particular those involved in the delegation I led to Whitehall, who have worked so hard for this.”

Chris Sadler, Principal of Kirklees College, expressed his “relief and delight” the project has finally got the go-ahead and paid tribute to Mr Malik’s hard work during the process:

“Mr Malik’s efforts were instrumental in raising the awareness and the profile of our proposal. He lobbied the government tirelessly to make sure this investment came to Kirklees and we are all extremely grateful for his help.”