Bournemouth University has launched a public consultation to engage the local community about plans to develop a new flagship building at its Talbot Campus.
The £22m project would help further enhance the facilities offered by BU, which contributes more than £1m a day to the local economy and is the first university in the UK to be commended for the quality of learning it offers students.
It would see the development of a major new building providing a range of academic, research and social facilities, including seminar rooms, lecture theatres and catering facilities.
The design is for a building with a glass-fronted exterior, a central atrium and open spaces offering a welcoming atmosphere. Local residents and businesses would also be encouraged to use the building’s facilities.
Soft landscaping and green features will also form part of the plans when the design is finalised.
The proposed location for the new building is on one of the campus car parks, which currently holds 197 spaces. As part of its plans, BU is developing options to replace all of the car park spaces lost.
These options will be announced in due course and consulted on before a planning application is submitted.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Vinney, said: “2013 has been one of our most successful years and we’re determined to keep on improving.
“Our aspiration is to become an centre of academic excellence in education, research and professional practice and we need world-class facilities to match those aspirations.
“This proposal, which will meet the needs of our current number of staff and students, would enable us to vacate some temporary buildings into a purpose-built state-of-the art centre.”
This year has seen BU leap 14 places in The Sunday Times Good University Guide and become the first university to be “commended” by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education for the quality of student learning opportunities – the highest award possible.
Earlier this month a new report revealed BU is worth an annual £252m to the conurbation of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch and £378m to the South West – more than £1m a day.
As part of BU’s plans to improve its facilities, construction began in the summer on a new £10.5m student centre, which will provide significant additional learning space and be a new home of the Students’ Union at BU and the support services offered to all students.
Professor Vinney added: “We are very proud of our recent achievements and the significant contribution we make to the local economy. However, we cannot afford to stand still in an increasingly competitive higher education market and these new buildings will help us attract high-calibre staff and students for years to come.
“We want to engage with the local community on our plan for a new academic building, and we very much welcome their views.”
Newsletters and updates are being sent to local residents and other key stakeholders.
A public exhibition detailing the plans and the parking options will also be held later in the year, with a planning application due to be submitted in February 2014.
