PHASE one of Totton College's £5m campus revamp is open for business.

The college, which has 1,100 full-time students and 6,500 part-time, is in the throes of a five-year development plan to match its facilities to local population growth and regular hikes in its own student numbers - up 11 per cent last year.

The first part of the scheme, costing £2.2m - increased from an original estimate of £1.6m because of extra disabled-access features - has given the college an impressive new frontage on to Calmore Road.

The new entrance opened this week, although the presence of the last bits of scaffolding means an official opening will not take place for some time.

Behind the roundhouse faade of the new south wing, students are now making use of a host of extra facilities including:

A drop-in IT centre.

A new student lounge and refectory.

A music centre and recording studio.

A language lab.

An exhibition hall, conference rooms and classrooms.

A new reception and one-stop guidance centre.

Extra facilities for the disabled, such as a lift to allow wheelchairs to reach top-storey art and science classrooms, are planned in a later phase.

Mark Bramwell, college principal said: "The new building is exciting, giving a whole new feel to the campus; welcoming but truly impressive day or night.

"It is the largest single investment yet in the modernisation of the campus, and it reflects the success of the college and a sense of optimism that we are well on track to be one of the most outstanding sixth- form colleges in England."

Mr Bramwell said a piece of original artwork would be commissioned to highlight the new foyer. "College staff and students past and present will be eligible to compete for the honour of having their creation in pride of place," he said.