Feedback from public consultation shows strong support for new Waterside Campus

The University of Northampton held a number of consultation events during June to showcase plans for the proposed Waterside Campus and gain feedback from the local community. Early analysis of the feedback shows that 68 per cent of people who completed our feedback survey support the development of the Waterside Campus.

The University shared the outline vision for a state of the art new Waterside Campus at the Avon Nunn Mills site in the heart of Northampton, before plans to submit an outline planning application.

Professor Nick Petford, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northampton said: “We are pleased the 68 per cent of people who completed our feedback survey support the development of the Waterside Campus.

“We have worked hard to create outline proposals for a Campus development which will have great facilities for our students, staff and the community of Northampton. We will now look deeper at the detailed feedback from respondents and where feasible we will incorporate elements within our planning submission.”

Other key elements of the feedback are:

• 88 per cent of survey respondents agree that the reputation of the University would be enhanced by the move to Waterside
• 93 per cent of survey respondents feel that the relocation to the Waterside Campus will benefit Northampton
• 84 per cent of survey respondents feel that the mixed use format of the campus mix is good or very good
• 29 per cent of survey respondents would like further information or had yet to make up their minds on the proposals.

Cllr David Mackintosh, Leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “This is a vital development for both the University and the town.

“It’s good to see that so many people had constructive comments to make and that the University is doing all it can to take these into account. We look forward to receiving the outline planning application in due course.”

If the development progresses as we hope, the University could begin ground work in 2014, with the campus opening in autumn 2018.