Twenty million pound will be invested in NEWI

On Friday, staff at the North East Wales Institute (Newi) in Wrexham announced the Golden Opportunity project which, it is hoped, will be funded by donations.

The new schools, conference centre and gallery are expected to be in place by 2008.

Newi also hopes the Capital of Culture award granted to Liverpool, just 30 miles away from Wrexham, will mean tourists will come over to view their new art gallery.

"It would've been lovely if Cardiff had won but I think realistically here, in this region, we would be crazy not to explore those links," said Newi's project director Julie Hinchliffe.

Golden Opportunity Project Business and Art and Design School Art Gallery Conference Centre Residences

"We hope to see visitors going to Liverpool for Capital of Culture and then coming around the corner into north Wales."

Mrs Hinchliffe said the Golden Opportunity Project has snowballed.

"Originally it started out as a project to get some new buildings for the business school and the school of art and design but when the project team got together we started expanding the brief.

"We're going to be building a north Wales business and design centre, that's schools for the business and art and design school, a conference centre with residences and an art gallery."

The college has not yet decided where the centre will be built or if it will be erected on their current site at Plas Coch, Wrexham.

Professor Michael Scott is excited by the project

Chief Executive Professor Michael Scott said: "The economy of the country is changing and the demands on the economy are changing and what's required is business working with design.

"We realise that nowhere in the UK do you actually have specialism of business and design.

"People can come in here and really feel that the university is a resource for them."

Mr Scott said students are delighted with the investment and the Students Union say the new initiative will make Newi easier to market to potential pupils.