A MERGER between a college in north Kent and another in Bexley has been delayed by re-development demands.

North West Kent College, which has a campus in both Gravesend and Dartford, and Bexley College, in Belvedere, have put off the proposed merger to concentrate on securing funding for building works.

A joint steering group of governors decided on the change of priorities and will focus on redevelopment plans this year before reconsidering a possible merger after 2010.

Rebuilding is under way at North West Kent College’s Gravesend campus, in Dering Way, and will begin soon at the Dartford campus, in Oakfield Lane, while Bexley College plans to move to another site within Bexley. Funding bids must be received by Kent County Council by the end of the year.

Both colleges say they want students to enjoy the benefits of the new buildings within the next three to four years, and that to undertake a merger at the same time may put the development plans at risk.

Malcolm Bell, principal at North West Kent College, said: “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.”