Campus development
We’re investing £200 million in making the University of Sussex better. Through our campus development, we can maintain our position as one of the world’s leading academic institutions and attract and work with the best and brightest minds.
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West Slope development progresses to next stage
Posted on behalf of: Better Campus
Last updated: Monday, 18 December 2023
The University has finalised a partnership agreement with Balfour Beatty, our partner for the redevelopment of the East Slope, for building and operating West Slope – a redevelopment of a significant part of our campus to deliver nearly 1,900 student bedrooms as well as other key facilities. West Slope sits alongside the Network Replacement Programme and Student Information System as one of the key transformational projects in the University’s current Capital Programme.
Over the last 18 months, in preparation for the main construction work we have prepared the site by demolishing the original residences, which were no longer fit for purpose and in exceptionally poor condition. We are close to completion of a significant programme to upgrade key utilities such as gas, water and electricity, ensuring their resilience for both our existing campus and the new West Slope development. In addition, a new children’s playground, laundrette, basketball court and student garden have been delivered, and our Security Team and Print Unit have relocated.
The project has been guided by both our commitments to accessibility for all and our aspirations to be one of the most environmentally sustainable universities in the UK. West Slope will be rated Excellent under the environmental building standard BREEAM. This measures both the sustainability of the final buildings, which will include the use of solar panels, water recycling and green roofs, and the materials and processes used during their construction, for instance the material produced from the demolition work will be reused onsite.
West Slope will transform the landscape and experience of our campus. As well as 51 new accessible bedrooms, three of which will be fully adaptable with carers accommodation, outdoor lifts and gently inclined walkways with resting places will make our campus easier to navigate, and our new Health and Wellbeing Centre, supermarket and café will be fully accessible to all.
The new residences, which includes single-bedroom accommodation and much needed 2-bedroom family accommodation, will significantly enhance the student experience here at Sussex, and the Health and Wellbeing Centre, larger supermarket and catering facilities will improve our campus for students, staff and visitors alike. Construction will start in 2024, with the first new student accommodation and the Health and Wellbeing Centre opening in time for the academic year 2026/27, with more accommodation, catering and retail facilities opening over the following two years.
Tim Westlake, Chief Operating Officer said: ‘The West Slope development is critical to the future success of our campus university, with new student accommodation and amenities set to enhance our estate and ensure all new students are able to live on campus if they wish. When complete, the development will transform the centre of our campus and provide more green space for staff and students to enjoy. This is an important milestone for the University, and I am delighted that we are now able to deliver on this important element of the University’s Capital Programme. The University is absolutely delighted to have secured such significant investment in Sussex and look forward to working in partnership with Balfour Beatty to delivering West Slope.’
You can stay up to date with the latest on all of our projects through our Viva Engage communities, including: Creating a Better Campus; Food at Sussex; Transforming Sussex; PS Places; Campus travel and transport
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A better campus
Our experiences of study, work and life over the past couple of years have highlighted even more keenly the need to provide space that works for all our people – students and staff alike.
We’re investing in making our stunning 60-year-old campus better – with everything from big builds to small changes to our existing space and facilities. These will give us areas that work, providing modern spaces and keeping our historic campus beautiful for another 60 years.
Over the past five years, we have built 2,117 new bedrooms on campus, creating a new student village – East Slope – with a mixture of townhouses and flats as well as study spaces and social hubs. We have also opened the doors of our brand new Student Centre – a multipurpose learning and events space, which as well as being a new hub for student services, will offer new retail and leisure amenities.
Our next step is the most ambitious programme we have undertaken in recent years. The West Slope development will greatly enhance the student and academic experience, giving the University the infrastructure it needs to continue to be an internationally-recognised centre for excellence, as well as being a covetable place to live, work and forge connections.
Beyond our campus development we are investing in the whole student experience by enhancing to our world-leading research, reimagining our education and creating a seamless work environment. Our Network Replacement Programme for instance, is set to deliver a modern, fast, reliable and secure wired and wireless network across our campus, giving our students, academics and researchers access to what the need, when they need it. Read more about how we are investing in making Sussex even better.
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