A £150 million University of Leicester student village with room for 1,200 people has been officially opened.
The Freeman’s development has been going up over the past couple of years off Welford Road close to the city’s university campus.
Regeneration work has seen derelict halls of residence and an open air car park transformed into a “high-tech centre for teaching, working and living”.
At its heart is the four-storey Sir Bob Burgess Building, named after the university’s former late Vice-Chancellor, which comprises two large lecture theatres, flexible teaching spaces and space for staff to work, meet and relax.
The building is a fitting tribute to Sir Bob, who was the Vice-Chancellor of the university from 1999 to 2014
The site also includes accommodation for 1,200 students, a social hub including a food outlet and bar and a 555-space multi-storey car park.
The project has included the refurbishment and extension of the Grade II-listed Freemen’s Cottages as its centrepiece.
Kerry Law, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professional Services) at the university, said: “Freemen’s is the realisation of years of careful planning to deliver the very highest quality environment for our students to live and learn in.
“We have been delighted with the positive reaction of both students and staff as they settle in to their new home, which extends our vibrant city campus.
“Freemen’s doesn’t only deliver first-class facilities for students and colleagues, but also provides benefits for the public, including pleasant open spaces and safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
“The regeneration of a tired site into a landmark new neighbourhood is something the University and city can be very proud of, as the University embarks on its second century.”
Freemen’s is powered by sustainable technologies, with the expectation more than 80,000 kWh of solar power will be generated each year.
It was delivered by the university, equity partner and constructor EQUANS and funding partner Equitix.
The development was carried out in tandem with Leicester City Council’s work to connect the east and west of the city.
Contractor EQUANS was responsible for the highways upgrades around the Freemen’s Common site, in Welford Road and Putney Road.
