Cirencester College has secured £650,000 funding to support the development of new art facilities.

The contribution from Wave 4 of the T-level capital fund will support the transformation of two floors of the college's largest building into art lofts.

The facilities will give art students new learning opportunities, with the introduction of the creative T-levels, which start in September 2023.

Gloucester-based architect firm Roberts Limbrick has designed the contemporary new space. The firm also designed the Gloucestershire Digital Skills Centre and the new T-level building at the college, which will be completed soon.

Jim Grant, Cirencester College principal, said: "For years at Cirencester, our lecturers have successfully taught art, textiles and other creative subjects, despite many facilities being cramped and outdated.

"We have also had the issue of what to do with the largest building on our site - a three-storey 1950s classroom block with no disability access. Its location and the cost of demolition and rebuilding would be prohibitive and today we should always be looking at refurbishment before replacement.

"Our solution is to convert two floors into large art lofts, to provide the kind of modern, creative spaces found in the design industry. The plans drawn up by Roberts Limbrick Architects will provide full accessibility and modern standards of heating, lighting and ventilation. These will be superb spaces with all the facilities needed for our T-level creative students to learn skills, experiment and produce their work.

"It also means that we can greatly extend the kind of creative courses available to students across the Cotswolds and North Wiltshire, which we hope will include fashion, jewellery, ceramics and furnishings.

"We were delighted to hear that our bid for T-level capital funding to support this project has been approved and our teams have already been mobilised to make sure this new creative and design facility is ready for September 2023."