THE town's first University Technical College has been forced to push back its opening date by 12 months after a series of setbacks have left education chiefs with no choice but to defer its launch, the Warrington Guardian has learned.

The multi-million pound specialist college, which will focus on engineering and energy education and training for 14 to 19 year olds, was expected to open in September but will now open its doors in September 2016.

Lynda Moore, deputy provost of the University of Chester’s Warrington Campus and chairman of the University Technical College Warrington (UTCW) Steering Group said it was regretful that its opening has been postponed.

But she added this was ensure that the college will be fully prepared to offer the best for its students.

She said: “The UTCW team originally set a challenging target of opening to students in September which would have meant opening the college in temporary accommodation as the building could not be completed until 2016.

“Although we are pressing hard on the timetable to complete the construction we now know that our need for temporary accommodation would stretch beyond a few weeks.

"Other UTCs across the country in the same position have reconsidered their timescale in order to make sure they get their building, their curriculum and their recruitment right, rather than open before they are ready.

“We are fully committed to ensuring students enjoy the best learning environment with the best equipment from day one of their joining the UTC and regretfully we have decided to seek the agreement of the Department for Education to push back our opening date until September 2016."

It is understood that prospective students have been informed of the decision.

The announcement comes a couple of weeks after Catherine Collier resigned from her post as the college's principal designate to 'pursue other opportunities' - despite only stepping up to her new role in September.

Planning permission to build the six storey building, which will accommodate 620 pupils and 47 members of staff, is also currently under consideration.

If the plans are given the green light the college will be constructed on the former site of Dallam Day Centre in the town centre.

Mrs Moore added: “We are really excited about the design of the UTCW and we have a secured an additional £1m budget to invest in specialist engineering equipment."