500 jobs to be created in £24m boost for university

● Education chiefs reveal plans for Eden campus at St Andrews

University chiefs have unveiled campus development plans which could see 500 jobs being created in Fife.

Proposals worth £24 million by the University of St Andrews as part of the Tay Cities deal would result in the new posts being made at the Eden campus in Guardbridge.

The bid is part of a £1.84 billion package for more than 50 projects across Tayside and North East Fife as part of the Cities Deal.

Projects earmarked for the bid include a zero carbon integrated energy community, an enterprise centre and a location for a “living lab” environment.

University quaestor and factor Derek Watson said: “With Tay Cities Deal help, we can continue to redevelop buildings and provide the necessary infrastructure to co-locate exciting new industry alongside academic expertise from across Scotland.

“Our plans for Eden campus are ambitious but with help from our partners in the Tay Cities region and government support, we believe we can make a genuine contribution to the government’s strategic objectives and society as a whole.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie said: “I am delighted that the university is putting forward ambitious proposals to further develop their Eden campus.

“This is a strong bid which

0 An artist’s impression of the plans for the University of St Andrews would build on the existing investment. The university’s redevelopment of Guardbridge has my full support.”

SNP North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins said: “I am delighted that the university has taken this step; its continued commitment to the Eden campus project is great news for the local economy and surrounding communities.”

The university has already invested £25 million in a green energy centre at Eden campus which pumps hot water four miles to St Andrews to heat university buildings.

More than 350 university staff are to relocate from St Andrews to the Eden campus in 2018.

St Andrews has already spent £25m on developing a green energy centre at Eden campus.

The centre pumps hot water four miles to heat university buildings at the main St Andrews site.

The Cities Deal investment would see the redevelopment of an additional 5,500 sq m of existing derelict buildings.

The new jobs would be technical, academic, administration and support.