K college, recently formed from merger of South and West Kent Colleges, has given firms just a few weeks to prequalify as it presses ahead to meet a challenging schedule to start construction in November.

The current Victorian building on the Elwick Road in Ashford town centre will be demolished to make way for the new development.

Designs for the new teaching facility include a central four-storey, circular entrance hall, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, with two large building wings on each side.

To fund the £18m building cost, K College will sell its existing site at Jemmett Road in Ashford for housing.

Education bosses hope the relocation of a major college campus to the town centre, which could be in operation by spring 2013, will boost local businesses and the public transport sector.

Further details are available from [email protected]