DESPITE vociferous opposition from its own students and lecturers, Dartington College in Devon is to merge with University College Falmouth where it will occupy a purpose built building on Tremough campus.

The board of governors at world renowned performing art's college's decided on Friday that it was no longer financially viable to stay on the Dartington Hall Estate and voted to move to Falmouth.

The board said it recognised the "once in a lifetime" opportunity to create a new specialist University of the Arts in and for the south west region. It said the college was no longer sustainable on the estate. The move could bring hundreds more students down to the Penryn area But it had been opposed by student and lecturers who said the move would destroy the unique character of the college.