A pioneering skills centre in Feltham that will offer training to hundreds of students a year has been given the go-ahead by councillors.

West Thames College was granted planning permission for the £20m project, which will replace the dilapidated former People’s Centre on the High Street, at a recent sustainable development committee meeting.

Councillors narrowly voted in favour of the Feltham Skills Centre by seven votes to six - but concerns about funding due to the recession mean future plans still remain uncertain.

West Thames College was hopeful this week, saying that planning permission was “one step closer” to the skills centre becoming a reality.

College principal Marjorie Semple said: “We are delighted the committee approved the planning application for the Feltham Skills Centre and look forward to working with residents - both young and old - ensuring everyone in the community benefits from the new facilities.”

The new centre is seen as vital for filling a skills gap in an area which has a high rate of unemployment.

But concerns have been raised about the six-storey building being located within a conservation area, and the danger of hundreds of students spilling out on to a busy junction during rush hour.

The centre is part of a £90m project by West Thames College, which includes a revamp of its Isleworth campus.

Feltham Skills Centre would offer courses in construction, catering, engineering and hairdressing, among other subjects.

The application for the new building was submitted to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) last year, with the centre scheduled to open to students in 2011, but doubts about its funding have since emerged.

A decision from the LSC, the Government funding body for higher education, was due to be made on March 4 but was deferred at the last minute and is expected in the next few weeks.