A PLANNED merger between two further education colleges has been put on ice for the next two years.

Bexley College, based in Erith, and North West Kent College which has campuses in Dartford and Gravesend, announced their merger talks in January.

But with changes to funding arrangements for further education (FE) colleges due from 2010, both colleges have now decided to concentrate on their own redevelopment plans in the short term.

Both colleges say they need to apply for cash to fund their redevelopment plans before the end of the year, and that trying to sort out a possible merger at the same time could put both colleges' projects at risk.

From 2010 the Learning and Skills Council will no longer be responsible for funding FE colleges.

Instead it will become the responsibility of local authorities and a new Skills Funding Agency.

This will also involve new procedures for merging colleges and both Bexley and North West Kent say until they want to wait until they know exactly what the new procedures involve.

Bexley College plans to move from its current base in Tower Road, Erith, and is already in talks about moving to a new location in the borough.

But it plans to keep its Holly Hill Campus in Belvedere, where its welding, carpentry and other associated workshops are.

The college is also expanding its courses and will be doubling the number of apprenticeships on offer from September.

North West Kent College has already begun rebuilding work at its Gravesend campus in Dering Way, to create new teaching blocks, hospitality and technology centres and a vehicle workshop.

Work will soon begin at its Dartford campus in Oakfield Lane, Wilmington, on new buildings to house teaching blocks, a theatre and improved sports facilities.

David Gleed, interim principal at Bexley College, said: "Our first priority is to ensure that learners across the two boroughs have the buildings and facilities they need."

Malcolm Bell, principal at North West Kent College, added: "There is a narrow window of opportunity available for our capital funding bid, so we must ensure that our buildings strategy takes priority over our merger discussions for the moment."