A jobs boost is on the cards in the York construction trade after plans were unveiled for a multi-million pound centre to equip new talent to join the industry.

York College is seeking planning consent to build a £6 million Construction Centre on its Sim Balk Lane site.

Bosses are eyeing up land currently occupied by a car park and small meeting centre building, to be converted to one large educational building.

The new application proposes a two-storey development within the existing footprint of the campus.

Louise Lawrence-Crockford, deputy principal for resources at York College, said: “This development has been six years in the planning.

“We are very excited by the opportunity to expand our site and open a new purpose built construction centre at a time when York needs talented young people progressing into the construction industry.”

Subject to public consultation, the building project is expected to get under way in August, with construction lasting more than a year.

“We are planning to move from our current small centre at Osbaldwick to our new purpose built construction centre in September 2015,” she added.

“Our construction students will then benefit from first class facilities and the outstanding teaching and learning environment on our main site.

“We will also be better able to meet their needs and those of the construction industry at a time when there is likely to be a shortage of skills in this area.”

York College was recently congratulated by Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, on its outstanding Ofsted grade awarded in December 2013.

National research has pointed to a shortage of home-grown talent to work on construction sites.

During the boom, many of the workers were of Eastern European origin – but went home when the recession set in and the work dried up.