CAMPAIGNERS say "good progress" has been made following a recent public consultation on the future of Five Acres College.

The success of the recent Enquiry by Design event for the relocation of Gloucestershire College from the Royal Forest of Dean Campus has enabled Westdean Parish Council to apply for initial pre-feasibility funding from Locality.

Locality, which is a government-backed nationwide network of development trusts, community enterprises, settlements and social action centres, aims to assist community enterprise and offer funding for feasibility studies.

Councillor Tim Gwilliam for Berry Hill and Westdean Parish Council said: "This is great news and is just what the community asked for. We have a lot of work to do and although it is an ambitious plan that doesn't mean we won't do it. I'm pleased to say it's what the consultants and community came up with and we have a lot of support from people including MP Mark Harper and Julie Girling MEP. The project will be a great boost for the Forest."

The Homes and Community Agency, who own the site, held the five-day event and commissioned a consultant team led by Arup to bring together key stakeholders to discuss their ambitions for the future of the site and begin to design future options for its development.

Some of the plans include an extension to the current sports hall at Lakers School, expanding the Forest of Dean gymnastics and fitness centre and selling the Berry Hill Primary School site to facilitate a move to Lakers School.

The agency will now distribute copies of the summary report from the event to key stakeholders and meet with adjacent land owners (Berry Hill Primary School, Lakers School and Berry Hill RFC) to explore opportunities for a comprehensive approach towards delivering the preferred master-plan option. They will also commission a further "reflection" session in January 2014, attended by consultants Arup. Key stakeholders will be invited to attend the event to review progress.