A £20 MILLION cash boost is set to transform shopping in Salisbury and bring its college campus firmly into the 21st century.

The city has scooped the lion’s share of a £28m investment package that aims to boost the Wiltshire and Swindon economy.

It includes £6m towards clearing the ground ready for the Maltings and Central car park redevelopment and almost £14m for an overhaul of Wiltshire College’s Salisbury campus.

The decision, which will be announced today by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, was delayed while funding chiefs re-assessed the county’s economic priorities.

Salisbury MP John Glen and Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott worked behind the scenes to secure the investment for the city.

Mr Glen said he was delighted with the result.

He said: "Securing this funding, after numerous conversations with ministers over many months, is a key boost to south Wiltshire’s economy and skills agenda.

“The plans for Wiltshire College will be instrumental in continuing the important task of improving Salisbury’s education offer to meet the demands of local employers, while the Maltings redevelopment is a major opportunity for the people of Salisbury to have input into a significant city centre development.

“Both projects will impact directly and positively on quality of life, leisure and job opportunities for the people of Salisbury – and I could not be more pleased.”

The college cash will fund a major refurbishment programme including new facilities for construction, life sciences, engineering and higher education courses.

And the Maltings money will go towards the cost of clearing builders’ rubble buried beneath the Central car park, so developer Stanhope can pursue its plans for new shopping and leisure facilities plus 200 new homes.

A new agricultural technology centre at Wiltshire College, Lackham will also receive £8million.

The funding from the Local Growth Fund was secured through the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP).

As previously reported by the Journal, the college’s bid topped SWLEP’s list of 11 investment priorities for the county, worth a total of almost £90million.

Less than a third of that money has been granted, meaning only the top three bids have been successful while eight other major transport, education and technology infrastructure projects in Chippenham, Trowbridge, Swindon, and Salisbury missed out.

SWLEP chairman John Mortimer said investment in skills was a “fundamental pillar” of economic growth, while the Maltings regeneration would help make the city centre “resilient and competitive”.

Director Paddy Bradley said that Salisbury had a "fantastic medieval history" and the developments would help "pick it up again".

He added that it was a further lift for the economy of the area, coming weeks after the announcement of Boeing's new "centre of excellence" at Boscombe Down.

Baroness Scott said the investment would help to ensure students had the necessary skills and experience to make a positive contribution to Wiltshire’s economy.

Wiltshire College chairman of governors Helen Birchenough said the funding would provide students with “world-class” facilities.