The future of a further education campus in west Belfast is under threat after a report found "major flaws" in the current plan.

The �70m Springvale campus, a joint venture between the University of Ulster and Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, has been planned for almost 10 years.

However, a consultant's report said there were problems of "affordability and viability" with a business plan, drawn up before the project is put out to tender.

The Department of Employment and Learning has decided to call a halt to the project and ask for it to be re-worked.

Known as the Springvale Educational Village, it would be the University of Ulster's fifth campus in the province, with places for up to 4,500 students.

Carmel Hanna: Outlined difficulties with the project

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Carmel Hanna, said she was taking urgent steps to clarify the way forward for the project.

Mrs Hanna confirmed that the current difficulties focussed on the "affordability and long term sustainability of the campus".

"These are areas of such importance for the overall project that I cannot ignore them," she said.

"I am a strong supporter of this project and my intervention at this time is designed to move things forward to ensure that the vision for the best and most appropriate provision at Springvale is achieved.

"I have directed that the senior management of my department engage with the Springvale Board today and reflect my concerns regarding the current situation.

"At this meeting, I have asked that they will convey my desire to instigate a review of the current difficulties."

Clinton

The campus was given the official go-ahead in February 2000, and the government had pledged �40m towards the project.

The remainder of the money was to have come from a range of sources including the International Fund for Ireland, the Millennium Commission as well as private finance.

A community outreach centre is already in place on the site, with an applied research centre at design stage and due to be completed next year.

The final phase of the Springvale campus is scheduled for construction by 2006.

Mrs Hanna added: "The current issues lie with the development of the campus, and as this is a huge capital investment and of a complex nature, one would expect the lead in time to be protracted and for genuine difficulties to emerge."

The first sod of the Springvale campus was cut in 1998 by the then US President Bill Clinton.

In a statement, Belfast Institute said it shared the minister's "commitment" to the Springvale project and had the resources to undertake it.

"The institute looks forward to the successful completion of the project," it said.