WARRINGTON Collegiate is set to merge with three other further education colleges in Cheshire to create one big new college for Warrington and Cheshire by 2018.

The Winwick Road college will join forces with South Cheshire College, West Cheshire College and Mid Cheshire College.

The plans were announced after the government’s FE commissioner, Sir David Collins, reviewed the educational choices for over 16s in the area.

It is hoped that the merger will create an efficient and financially stable institution, after Warrington Collegiate was ordered to improve its finances in December last year.

The new college will have campuses spread across the three local authorities of Warrington, Chester and Cheshire West and Cheshire East.

The first phase of the merger will combine South Cheshire College and West Cheshire College by January 2017, followed by Mid Cheshire College in August 2017.

Warrington Collegiate is expected to become part of the new college in January 2018.

Nichola Newton, principal of Warrington Collegiate, said: "The partner colleges have worked in a constructive and collaborative manner and in the best interests of Cheshire and Warrington to create this unique and exciting opportunity.

“The new college will be sustainable and resilient and will deliver maximum value for public investment, providing high quality education, training and skills development for learners, employers and the communities we serve for years to come."

Sir David Collins, said: “A FE college for Cheshire and Warrington has the full support of all four colleges, as well as local authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

“The merged college can, through its collective strengths, ensure consistency of quality as well as sustainability and resilience against the challenges faced by all colleges.”

Macclesfield College of Further Education could also join the new college.