College demolition plans lodged

More than 200 homes could be built on the college site

Plans to demolish a further education college in southern Scotland to replace it with housing have been drawn up.

A planning application for Dumfries and Galloway College at Heathhall has been submitted to the local council.

It would see more than 150 houses and about 50 flats constructed on the eight-hectare site.

Students currently using the facility are set to transfer to a �37m "super campus" on the Crichton estate in Dumfries later this year.

The purpose-built Heathhall campus was officially opened by Princess Alexandra in 1973.

Open space

However, relocation to the Crichton site has been a target for a number of years.

Many other institutions are already on that campus including the University of Glasgow, the University of the West of Scotland and Bell College.

The move to join them is seen as central to enhancing further and higher education in the town.

The plans to redevelop the Heathhall site have been lodged by James Barr Ltd of Glasgow.

They would see a mix of flats and houses built on the land as well as screening where the site borders the Catherinefield Industrial Estate.

The outline application also includes a mixture of play areas and general open space.