A MERGER between two London colleges is on the cards for the New Year.

Waltham Forest College, in Walthamstow, and Barnet and Southgate College have announced plans to explore a possible merger starting in 2017.

Principal of Waltham Forest College, Penny Wycherley, said the plans to merge the colleges follows a whole year of talks.

Ms Wycherley confirmed the plans would not involve closing the main building, in Forest Road, Walthamstow, or the site in Priestley Way, also in Walthamstow, which is home to the college’s automotive engineering facilities.

She added: “Both colleges share the view that we are here for the community.

“There will be a centralising of some services and a review of the curriculum to see how we can best provide them as one single college.”

The merger’s progress will depend on the outcome of a consultation period, due in early 2017, when the community and college stakeholders will view the “outline plans”.

If the consultation period provides no set-backs, the colleges will merge on August 1, 2017.

Chairman of Waltham Forest College, Paul Butler said: “A single, joined up college will give us the ability to extend our training offer and deliver a wider range of high quality courses that meet the needs of young people and local, regional and national businesses.”

Chairman of Barnet and Southgate College, Ann Zinkin, says she welcomes the opportunity to collaborate.

She added: “We share the same objectives of building a vibrant, high quality and financially resilient college that serves young people well and meets the wider aspirations of the local communities and businesses in the area.

“Today marks an important step forward for both colleges, though we still have a lot more work to do before the merger can take place.”

Both chairpeople say they are looking to merge with more London colleges in the future, with talks with the College of Haringey and Enfield and North East London already in the pipeline.

What do you think of these plans? Contact Chingford and Waltham Forest reporter, Joe Roberts on joe.roberts@london.newsquest.co.uk with your views.