The post by marple_syrup raises some interesting points.
An obvious one is that CAMSFC can't use the £12M to update the Hibbert Lane site, as the only way they will get the £12M is by selling the site. So that's irrelevant.
No, it really got me thinking about Aquinas. CAMSFC have always competed with Aquinas for students, so this is nothing new.
When Aquinas decided to rebuild and extend, they faced similar concerns from local residents that CAMSFC are facing. The residents wanted to know what the college's plans were. This prompted the principal to write in the college newsletter “When we have a clearer idea of what our plans are, we will share them with you, our neighbours, and seek and listen to your views.” So, similar to CAMSFC, they didn't share their plans until they were clear what they were. I believe CAMSFC have said they will share their plans in October.
To further quote from an Aquinas newsletter "Can we reassure you straight away that, whatever we plan to do, we have no intention of significantly increasing student numbers at the college? It is widely accepted that the college has in this regard reached its optimum size. As we are part of the education provision for students over the age of 16 in Stockport, any move to increase student numbers at Aquinas would have a detrimental effect on other local colleges. We have no intention of allowing this to happen." So, as the Aquinas intake is already heavily oversubscribed, the competition for CAMSFC is unchanged. Also, we must not forget that any potential students who are not of the Catholic faith, or attending a Catholic school, have very little chance of going there.
I think the serious competition for sixth form colleges is going to come from secondary schools that are applying for Academy status. Sixth form colleges came about when government policy was to take A Levels out of the school system. It could be that colleges will shortly have to refocus and move back to Further Education.