MILLIONS of pounds of funding remains in doubt for a training centre intended to help local people into Olympic construction jobs.

The centre, in Cathall Road, was set to become a National Skills Academy for Construction and was intended to be completed later this year.

But full approval on an application for a grant of nearly £6million from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is still in jeopardy as it continues to review its finances.

A spokeswoman for the LSC said: “It's still under review and is being treated separately because it's a National Skills Academy, which means it's different to the colleges.

“A decision will be made in the coming weeks.”

A total of eight other projects at an “advanced stage” have received funding ahead of the Cathall Road scheme.

The LSC confirmed in April that it was looking at “a strategy for prioritisation” after a review of its capital funding programme.

However, no specific date for the decision has been set and construction is already behind schedule as “potentially hazardous hollow areas” found on the site had to be filled.

The Cathall Road plot, owned by energy company and Olympic sponsor EDF, is earmarked for the Crossrail 2 project and is leased to the council on a long-term, temporary basis.

The setbacks could mean apprentices are forced to train as far afield as Kent and Norfolk and could also mean the development has a shorter lifespan as a 10-year lease with EDF was signed in May 2008.

Approval in principle for funding from the LSC was given in November 2008, leading the council to expand its plans for the site.

A complementary training facility in Harrow Green, Leytonstone has been operating since January this year.

The council has confirmed that construction work will not begin until the LSC issues notification of funding.

Although preparation works are now complete, a new programme will have to be created, with a new completion date.