WORK on a multi-million pound project to to transform Medway into a key centre of learning could start as soon as next spring.

The project will create around 600 jobs for the area see and the number of students quadruple within six years, pumping an extra £10m into Medway's economy.

But all that depends on councillors approving a £50m development at the universities site at Chatham.

The universities project has already attracted £500,000 from drugs giant, Pfizer which is funding the chair of the new School of Pharmacy that opens next September. With a growing source of skilled students, the developments should also attract more businesses to the towns.

Part of the plan would see the Mid Kent College move its entire Medway operation from Horsted at Chatham and City Way at Rochester to the new campus, providing valuable development sites.

The plans, lodged with Medway Council, will bring the University of Kent and the Mid Kent College on to the campus already occupied by the University of Greenwich.

About two-thirds of the undergraduates are expected to be Greenwich students with the remainder split between the other two organisations.