HUGE EXPANSION PLANS FOR UNIVERSITY

COUNCIL SET TO APPROVE NINE CAMPUS PROJECTS OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS

PLANS to redevelop the University of Warwick with new state-of-the-art facilities are expected to be given approval by Coventry City Council next week.

The university has submitted a hybrid planning application to the council which includes its vision for nine campus projects over the next five years.

Full planning permission is sought for a new Faculty of Arts building on Central Campus and a £54.3 million Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research building on Gibbet Hill Campus.

Outline planning permission is also requested for a new 1,000 bed student residence, a pedestrian and cycle route, a Degree Apprenticeship Centre, a new academic building, a public ‘Science Square,’ and a 650space multi-storey car park. The university say the plans will support its ambition to be worldrenowned, by helping to modernise its facilities, widen its teaching and skills development, and provide sites for ‘potentially significant externally government funded research opportunities.’ But plans haven’t come without objections, with Burton Green Parish Council raising fears of increased traffic and Westwood Residents Association citing concern over car parking. Cannon Park Community Association have also objected to the car park as it would increase the university’s overall parking to 6452 – above 5422 cap agreed in 2009. Yet the proposals are recommended to be approved when they are put before the council’s planning committee on Thursday, pending Section 106 contributions. University vice chancellor Stuart Croft said: “New buildings are and will continue to be a part of our everyday existence.

“We need to open one new academic building a year from now until at least 2023. We need new student accommodation, a new sports centre, a redeveloped Arts Centre.

“In order to do this and to keep Warwick as one of the world’s leading universities, we need to do this together, involving the whole community.”

Coventry City Council highways are requesting £500,000 towards highways improvements such as A46 link road; either £300,000 towards cycle/pedestrian improvements, or traffic management, car parking or provision of these works by the university; and £300,000 should the traffic flow thresholds be exceeded.

The NHS has requested just under £100,000 to provide additional healthcare.

The latest phase of the university’s vision comes on the back of 31 planning applications either completed, under construction or granted planning permission over the last nine years.

To remain as one of the world’s leading universities we need to open one new academic building a year from now until at least 2023. Vice chancellor Stuart Croft