The planning consultation for the University of Gloucestershire’s new campus, which includes the transformation of the city's former Debenhams store, is being extended after a “cyber incident".
Gloucester City Council’s (GCC) said the incident had affected its online services, including how it registers and determines applications, with people unable to access its online planning portal since just before Christmas.
The council said it was working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency to understand more about the nature of the incident.
Access to planning applications is now available again via GCC’s website where there is also an up-to-date list of affected services.
The local authority said it was not possible to give a current timeframe for when it would be able resolve the issues and it would provide updates on services as soon as it was able to.
As part of its proposed new city campus, the University of Gloucestershire’s plans include transforming the former Debenhams department store in the centre of Gloucester into a learning space for its staff and students.
The university said it was still planning for phase one of development to open in September 2023, and the extension of the consultation would not impact the planning timescales.
Under the plans, staff and students – mainly from the school of health and social care – will begin accessing teaching facilities from September next year, on parts of the ground floor, lower-ground floor and first floor of the building.
Among the facilities will be learning spaces equipped with the latest technology; a university library; student help zones; and a dedicated faith space.
The students’ union has been involved in co-designing its headquarters on the ground floor. On the lower-ground floor a large lecture theatre will also act as a conferencing and exhibition space.
A public access café with a frontage on King’s Square is set to open during the first phase of development. The university said it was also in discussions with GCC about a new public library on the ground floor.
New exhibition and enterprise spaces are set to follow in the second phase, with the university in talks with partners about dual-access spaces, including a potential health and wellbeing centre.
The university said the new facilities would provide opportunities for people in the region and attract new talent to come there to study.
University of Gloucestershire vice-chancellor Stephen Marston said: “We’re pleased that the planning consultation has been extended to enable more people to share their views.
“We’re looking forward to unveiling new visuals, as well as hoardings on site, in the coming months, which will bring our plans to life for residents and visitors.”
Contractor Morgan Sindall Group was recently appointed to the project, which is being managed by Ridge and Partners LLP, with a design team led by ADP Architecture working with university staff and students to finalise the phase one plans.
Those who submitted comments via the online portal in the early stages of the consultation were advised to re-submit feedback in order for it to be considered as part of the council’s consultation.
The 1930s art deco Debenhams building in King’s Square was one of 124 Debenhams chain stores to close, with the 242-year-old brand being bought by online fashion retailer Boohoo in a £55m deal in January 2021.
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