South Thames College has finally received the thumbs-up for the refurbishment of a grade II listed building.

College authorities were furious when, after being approved, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) - which gave the collage a grant - froze work after realising they did not have enough money to support all of their projects.

This week the college became one of only 13 to get the go-ahead, saving the building in Wandsworth High Street from permanent closure.

Sue Rimmer, college principal, said: “It is wonderful news that the college can now complete the work that is already well underway to make South Thames a unique place to study for all our very talented learners.”

A spokesman for the LSC said in April: “The LSC’s approach to managing the capital programme was designed for a situation where funding for capital projects was in balance with demand from the sector.

"Continuing to use that approach as demand started to outstrip available funds led to the difficulties we have today.”