Work to start on uni’s £40m hub
CENTRE TO HELP PUT DURHAM IN BIG LEAGUE
WORK will begin on a £40m education hub at Durham University later this year.
The new Centre for Teaching and Learning is part of the university’s plans to develop a world-class research and education facility.
Along with state-of-the-art teaching technologies, the site’s conference facilities are predicted to boost the local economy by £2m each year.
There will also be a jobs benefit to the city and beyond during both the building of the centre and once it is open.
We look at the plans in more detail, and outline the timetable of work.
What will the centre include?
There will be a wide range of teaching learning environments and technologies, including new classrooms that will allow students to share courses in real time with students from peer institutions around the world.
It will feature lecture theatres, teaching rooms, education laboratories, student learning zones and catering facilities.
Insect-friendly plants, native trees and shrubs will be incorporated into the soft landscaping for the site.
Pedestrian movement will be enhanced around the site. This will include the footpath being widened and the crossing point relocated on South Road.
The pedestrian access to nearby colleges and depart-
ments will also be improved.
Where will the centre be built?
Durham City Council granted planning permission for the facility at Lower Mountjoy, Durham, last week.
When will work start?
Work is expected to begin in December and it is due to be complete in time for the 2019/20 academic year.
How many jobs will it create?
There will be 32 full-time jobs created. In addition there will be 186 direct construction jobs and 281 indirect jobs during the construction period.
How will it benefit the wider region?
Outside of term time, the centre will allow the university to host major academic conferences, which will in turn support the wider economy in Durham City, County Durham and the North East as a whole.
The university expects the conference facilities to boost the local economy by around £2m a year.
There is the potential to attract 4,500 delegates over the 15-week university vacation period.
How were the plans developed?
The university consulted with staff, students, local residents and statutory consultees.
Nearby buildings and views from the Durham World Heritage Site were taken into account when the plans were drawn up.
Developing the facility is part of Durham’s University Strategy, 2017-2027 to deliver world-class research, education and wider student experience.