A MULTI-MILLION pound investment aimed at improving skills, jobs, homes and business opportunities by giving Wiltshire College and Salisbury city centre a facelift will be announced today by Communities and Local Government secretary Sajid Javid.

The £28.1m cash boost, which has been secured by Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership following a tough bidding process, will fund the construction of a new agricultural technology centre at Wiltshire College, Lackham, a construction of a life sciences, engineering and higher education facilities at Wiltshire College, Salisbury and the redevelopment of the central car park and Maltings area of Salisbury.

The investment comes from the government's third round of Local Growth Deal allocations to Local Enterprise Partnerships.

Mr Javid said: "We are determined to see Wiltshire and Swindon thrive and this latest funding of over £28 million will help create jobs, support business and develop higher level skills across the region.

"The area is already benefitting from improved infrastructure and new jobs through £141 million we’ve invested so far, this extra support will build on this to give a boost to the local economy."

Investment in skills was high on the priority list for the partnership and they believe the major investment at the colleges at Lackham and Salisbury is a step in the right direction.

"The new developments will provide students with world-class environments and enable greater involvement and engagement with local employers," Wiltshire College chair of governors Helen Birchenough said.

"Without the Local Growth Fund, it would have been impossible to support such a scale of transformation within Wiltshire College.

"This is great news for skills and for the economy in Wiltshire."

Chippenham MP Michele Donelan said: "The refurbishment of the college will enable our young people to learn about land-based industries and technologies in world-class conditions leading to apprenticeships, higher skills training and job opportunities.

"The development of the Lackham campus is great news for the college staff and students and I congratulate them on this achievement."

The Salisbury car park regeneration will also help improve Salisbury's city centre and make the are more competitive both regionally and nationally, while the entire investment is predicted to rejuvenate Wiltshire's growing economy and create nearly 1,500 jobs, 200 homes and opportunities for nearly 4,000 students.