Planning and urban design consultancy Turley Associates has secured planning success for a new teaching facility to support media and animation and further student accommodation for Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire.
Members of West Lancashire Borough Council’s planning committee resolved to grant planning permission for a new 4,900 sqm teaching and research facility, to be called Creative Edge. They also formally granted planning permission for a further 144 bed student accommodation block, increasing the number of high quality accommodation units on offer at the campus.
Creative Edge will include state-of-the-art television and media recording studios, editing suites, networked computer laboratories, together with lecture theatres, teaching and social space. Work on Creative Edge is expected to begin once planning permission has been issued and will open in September 2013 in time for the new academic year.
Steve Igoe, Deputy Vice – Chancellor (Resources) of Edge Hill University said: “This is an important milestone for Edge Hill University enabling us to continue to enhance our current academic programmes in advertising, animation, computing, design, film, music, performing arts, and TV and media.
“This investment will ensure that the University will have state of the art facilities on a par with those used by the best in the business, such as those enjoyed by the BBC in Salford Quays, and that our students will have hands-on experience of using these facilities as part of their teaching and learning experience.”
Work on the 144 bed student accommodation building is expected to begin early next year and be completed in time for the 2015 academic year.
David Diggle, Associate Director in the Manchester office of Turley Associates said: “We have worked alongside Edge Hill University for a number of years helping them deliver a high quality campus that sets it apart and providing an outstanding learning environment for current and future students. This latest permission is part of a phased expansion of the campus that will ensure the University continues to remain a popular choice for students across the UK.”
Since 2008 Turley Associates has secured permission for over 1,000 additional student bed-spaces and over £60million worth of development in its academic, social and sporting facilities. In January 2012 Turley Associates secured permission for a £25m sporting complex and 384 student bed-spaces in the green belt which is currently under construction.
Edge Hill University is over 125 years old. It has over 24,000 full and part time students, employs over 3,000 people and contributes more than £175m each year to the North West economy.
