The University of Nottingham's planned new 'world class' city centre campus has been welcomed by locals who hope it will 'bring new life' to the area. The University of Nottingham bought the Castle Meadow site, which was formerly occupied by HMRC, for more than £36 million in 2021, with the aim of turning it into its first city centre campus, the site located near Nottingham Railway Station.
Since more than 1,000 HMRC staff based at the site moved to Unity Square, the university has been planning to transform the large office complex into a digital research and business hub. The Russell Group university has now applied to change the use of the buildings to create a "world class educational campus", with an application for any external changes to be made later on.
Locals were convinced the project would benefit the city, with relief expressed that the huge space would not go to waste. Barrie Turton, 58, from St Ann's, said: "I cannot really see a problem with it, it is a good idea. It will bring some new life into this part of the city because there's not too much over here.
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"At the moment it is a big redundant space, so hopefully they can get it running soon." Craig Brown, 38, from Ilkeston, said: "As long as it is going to be used.
"It stands out because of the architecture, and you cannot have a space that big being left empty. At the end of the day, education facilities can never be a bad thing really."
Three core uses for Castle Meadow campus have been identified by the university. From late 2023 it will be home to the university's 'Digital Nottingham' project, providing a civic, research and innovation hub that aims to bring together researchers, businesses and communities to use digital and technology knowledge to solve real world challenges.
The campus will provide a new city centre location for Nottingham University Business School to conduct teaching, research and partnership activity, enabling it to grow its postgraduate offer and increase collaboration with strategic partners from 2025 onwards. From 2025 onwards it is also hoped the area will be a "practice-orientated campus for postgraduate students", where employers and students can work and learn together, preparing them for life after university.
The idea of the new city campus enthused a University of Nottingham student who was passing the site. Sam Samari, 18, who studies industrial economics, said: "It's exciting because it'll give us a campus closer to the city. It being right next to town is a lot more convenient as well.
"I think it will be a positive for the city and probably for the university as well - having a campus in the city centre."
In purchasing Castle Meadow campus, the university became landlords for law firm Browne Jacobson who are currently based at the site. Professional services firm KPMG has previously announced it will relocate its East Midlands office to the campus in 2023.
The University of Nottingham has suggested this co-location of industry and academia will set Nottingham apart in its offering to students and provide companies "unparalleled access to academic research, talent and expertise". A spokesperson said: “Opening an additional UK campus is an investment in our staff and students, and an expression of confidence in the future of both the University and the city of Nottingham.
"It enables us to accelerate existing plans to improve teaching and research space for staff, deliver our civic mission and make dedicated provision for professional practice-based courses – more quickly and at a lower cost than was originally planned. It enhances opportunities for collaboration with local business, industry and small businesses, making it easier for partners to engage with us and develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships, and make a positive difference for the city, while offering the best of facilities for staff and students.”
The Castle Meadow complex was designed by award-winning architect Sir Michael Hopkins as a result of an architectural competition to house about 1,800 civil servants from London. The move was part of an initiative to locate Government departments away from London to make savings in rent and overheads.
Previous plans were put forward to convert offices at the site into flats.
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