Alder King Planning Consultants has secured Outline Planning Permission from South Gloucestershire Council for the University of the West of England’s Masterplan.
The Masterplan includes a new Student’s Union building, a new Business School, a central plaza and transport hub which will link the two sites together as well as new student accommodation, a proposed Stadium and a central Academic zone including the library and other facilities. It also includes upgrades to existing buildings, improved landscaping and routes into and through the campus and the consolidation of other Faculties and Campuses onto Frenchay
The Masterplan aims to satisfy UWE’s changing needs over the next 25 years and enhance its ability to compete in the developing higher education market, provide enhanced facilities for staff and students and improved opportunities for employers and the local community to engage with the University and utilise facilities on campus.
Alder King’s involvement dates back to 2008, when the firm provided agency and planning advice to the University in relation to the purchase of 70 acres of land from Hewlett Packard, UWE’s neighbour to the west of the Frenchay Campus. It was subsequently retained to provide Town Planning advice to a multi-disciplinary Masterplanning Team appointed to develop a masterplan for the combined campus.
Alder King led negotiations with South Gloucestershire Council, co-ordinated a four-stage public consultation process and prepared a Concept Statement for the Campus, which was subsequently endorsed by the Council. This laid the groundwork for the subsequent Outline planning application (supported by the Masterplan) submitted on the University’s behalf by Alder King Planning Consultants.
Nick Tyrrell, Planning Partner at Alder King commented: “This is a fantastic result for the University, who acquired adjacent land vacated by Hewlett Packard during a period of economic uncertainty and have now got the green light to develop the Masterplan to create a comprehensive campus University boasting the highest quality educational facilities and support services in a most attractive environmental setting.”
Karl Scholz, Principal Planner at Alder King, added: “The proposed Masterplan development will have major benefits for the north fringe of Bristol and the wider region through increased investment in the campus. The improved conference offer provided by the existing Exhibition and Conference Centre and the proposed hotel plus the proposed transport hub and a range of additional facilities accessible to staff, students and the wider public will substantially improve accessibility to the Campus and local area.”
