A BID to build 149 homes on the current Kidderminster College site once it relocates to the town centre has been launched by a major developer.

Prowting Homes Midlands has submitted a planning application, which includes new roads, a traffic island and play area, to Wyre Forest District Council.

The college buildings will be levelled when it moves to the town centre where it is expected to be operational by September 2002.

The council is being asked to give the go-ahead for a new campus next to Kidderminster Library, a £9 million scheme which would involve the demolition of the multi-storey car park in Market Street.

The Prowting proposals would mean building on the college's current sites on both sides of Hoo Road, once demolition had taken place.

Wyre Forest development control manager Mike Parker said the Prowting scheme featured a "good mix" of housing, with detached semis, terraced properties and some housing association dwellings.

He added that the Hoo Road site was an "important" one in terms of development, as it met Government criteria for developing town brownfield sites for housing.

The Prowting application is expected to be considered by the council's planning committee when it meets on Tuesday, February 13.