The University of Worcester is encouraging residents to come along to two consultation events this week to find out more about plans to expand its St John's Campus.
There will be opportunities to speak to planners from the University and view the early master-plans for the proposed development, off Oldbury Road. The consultation events begin on Tuesday, July 19, at Worcester Community Trust Green Centre in Dines Green, from 3.30pm to 7pm, and continue on Wednesday, July 20 and Thursday, July 21 at Worcester's Guildhall in High Street, from midday to 4.30pm.
University Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green, said: "We really do encourage residents to come along and talk to us, share their views and find out more about what our vision is for this site. We hope people will agree that this is an exciting new development for the City and the wider region."
The planned University Court development is just a seven-minute walk from the University's existing, historic location in St John's. The original site was built on land gifted to the City for educational purposes following the end of the Second World War, and has continued to serve as a centre for education to this day.
The new site, at the corner of Oldbury Road and Laugherne Brook, will help the University to continue educating thousands of teachers, nurses, scientists and business professionals, among many others, to work in the community.
The land was allocated for housing in the South Worcester Development Plan and is the closest developable site to the University's historic site.
It is hoped that the first phase of development will provide accommodation for up to 700 students.
As part of the plans, there will be provisions for car parking, although the great majority of students who are in halls of residence do not use cars to travel around Worcester. The University will be working with both Worcester City and Malvern Hills District councils to develop more sustainable ways of travel.
Following the public consultations, the University hopes to finalise its outline plan and make a planning application to Malvern Hill District Council in the autumn. Subject to approval, it is hoped that the first phase of development would begin in the summer of 2017.
Picture credit: Fabrik