Designs for new University Campus approved

The University of Northampton’s exciting plans to build a state-of-the-art new Campus in the heart of Northampton’s Waterside Enterprise Zone have progressed further, with unanimous approval at a meeting of the Northampton Borough Council’s Planning Authority on Tuesday 17 February.

In December 2013, the University of Northampton received outline planning permission to redevelop the brown field site at Avon Nunn Mills in to a state-of-the-art, £330million new Campus, in the heart of Northampton’s Waterside Enterprise Zone.

The University has now received planning permission for the footbridge crossing from Becket’s Park on to the campus and the designs proposed for the academic and sport buildings. Featuring flexible learning and teaching spaces for the use of innovative technologies, alongside a vibrant mix of leisure and retail facilities, the new campus location and designs focus on the University’s aims of providing an excellent experience for students, staff and the wider community.

Feedback from the pre-application consultation events showed strong support for the University’s relocation as well as support for the academic and sports building designs themselves.

Vice Chancellor, Nick Petford, said: “I’m delighted that Northampton Borough Council’s Planning Committee has approved the detailed designs for our academic buildings at the new Waterside Campus. These outstanding facilities will attract students from Northampton and around the world to study, work and live within the town.

“Later this year, construction work on site will get underway, with infrastructure and building works commencing and completion of the campus ready for students joining the University from September 2018.”

Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “The university’s relocation is a key part of our strategy for the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone, and one of the major projects in the Northampton Alive regeneration programme.

“In a few short years we’ve already seen massive progress across the town, and work on the new campus development starting later this year is a clear demonstration that there’s plenty more to come.”