The collapse of a multibillion-pound government rebuilding programme has meant that more than 160 colleges across England will have to wait until 2011 to find out if they can continue with building projects.
Education minister Kevin Brennan said that 13 colleges have been allowed to continue this year.
The building projects were frozen by the Learning Skills Council (LSC) due to a lack of money in the current spending cycle, which lasts until 2010/11.
Around £300 million of capital investment for higher education will fund the 13 projects, a measure which was announced earlier this year in the Budget.
The funds were allocated to 13 colleges where the biggest impact on employers, students and communities could be made. The choice also depended on how quickly the work could be started to give the taxpayer value for money, according to a written ministerial statement by Mr Brennan.
The 13 colleges that have been given the green light were told to make “significant but manageable” reductions in costs to their original building plans, but the other 167 colleges that have been affected will not find out if they can continue with their plans until 2011.
The colleges will begin consulting with the LSC over how to prioritise building projects from the autumn, for the next review period for spending which starts in 2011/12.
