Activity at landmark campus build increases pace

On 22 October, a ceremony took place to mark the increase in pace of building work on the University of Northampton’s new £330m campus in Northampton Town centre.

Situated in the heart of the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone, the University of Northampton’s state-of-the-art campus will regenerate the brownfield area along the River Nene opposite Midsummer Meadow when it opens ready for the academic year in 2018.

Professor Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton said: “Over the next few weeks, the infrastructure contractors, VolkerFitzpatrick, will be changing the landscape here at the Waterside Campus, works are now commencing to create two new bridges giving access to the site. A vehicle bridge will filter from the Bedford Road, crossing the River Nene, with a pedestrian bridge crossing the river from the south corner of Beckett’s Park on to the campus.

“Celebrating the increase in pace of works today is an exciting moment for the University and the town as this is one of the biggest projects of its kind in the Higher Education at the moment.”

The Waterside Campus will offer University of Northampton staff and students’ state-of-the-art learning and teaching facilities, alongside 1,200 beds of student accommodation. The campus will also include community facilities such as a small hotel, health centre, multi-faith chaplaincy, bank and a range of retail and restaurant locations.

The Waterside Campus is being developed for the University of Northampton by main building contractors Bowmer & Kirkland, along with VolkerFitzpatrick completing infrastructure works. Infrastructure work will include the demolition of the existing power station façade, which has been derelict since 1975.