BURNLEY’S football college is planning a multi-million pound expansion close to its campus at Wembley Stadium.

Bosses said the new development is a key milestone for UCFB and will cater for the rapid growth in student numbers.

UCFB was launched in Burnley in 2011 offering degrees in football, sports and events industries and has since opened campuses at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium and Wembley.

It drew criticism earlier this year after it was revealed the Burnley campus would no longer offer undergraduate degrees and would close down its accommodation in the town.

The new £100million First Way Campus in Wembley, which is set to open in September 2019, will include a teaching resource centre, a 300-person auditorium and 680-bed accommodation.

Brendan Flood, UCFB’s chairman and a director at Burnley Football Club said they have seen ‘phenomenal growth’ at UCFB over the past few years, with the Wembley campus hosting more than 1,000 students three years after it opened.

He said: “With our ambitious future plans in mind, we have secured a permanent base right across the road from Wembley Stadium which will provide additional teaching facilities, social and entertainment space, as well as a gym and accommodation for 680 students.

“Whilst Wembley Stadium has and will continue to be at the heart of our campus, introducing the brand new First Way building will be a key milestone for UCFB Wembley and deliver an even better student experience for everyone living and learning with us. It is a continuation of our plans to produce the best, most inspiring campuses.

“We are proud of the continued success of UCFB Burnley at Turf Moor too, our original campus which is educating local A Level and BTEC sport students in an iconic setting.

“These students have a clear pathway to go on to study their university degrees in sport at either UCFB Etihad Campus or UCFB Wembley afterwards. With strong links to Burnley Football Club since we opened there in 2011, long may our mutual success and growth continue.”

Cole Waterhouse Real Estate is now seeking £100million in forward funding for the 1.6 acre campus.