MALVERN Hills College is opening up a new learning centre in Malvern Link.

The college has applied for planning permission to put the centre at 219/221 Worcester Road, the old Lloyds Bank building.

The centre will provide literacy, numeracy and information technology training.

David Blades, principal of Evesham and Malvern Hills College, said that if all goes well, the centre should be opening its doors in March.

He said: "It's going to be a community learning centre in a part of Malvern which is a vibrant and lively shopping centre."

Post-code surveys of students at the existing college, in Albert Road North, show a relative lack of participation from the Malvern Link area.

"There is a substantial population in Malvern Link and we are confident, because of the research we have done, that it will be quite a vibrant centre," he said.

The centre will be managed by Lynne Roberts, who currently runs the open access centre at the existing college.

The cost of converting the former bank building and running it for 12 months is £150,000. Additional funding from the Hereford and Worcester Learning and Skills Council means the adult courses should be either very cheap or free.

Mr Blades said the concept of the learning centre is well established, as one has been running successfully in Evesham's town centre for the last 12 years.