Liverpool University has announced a massive £600 million investment in buildings and student accommodation to cement a place at the top table of world leaders in higher education.
Around £250 million is to be ploughed in to provide 3,300 new beds in university halls and to upgrade a further 1,000 shabby rooms.
Half the cash will be spent on a new student village at Greenbank, Mossley Hill.
The rest will be split among other sites, while the university will review the future of halls in Mossley Hill once the new accommodation comes on line.
The remaining £350 million is earmarked for new academic facilities around the city and 710 new beds in a block in Vine Street.
The university’s director of facilities management Steve Dickson said: “Applications for our accommodation have doubled this year and it is important we make this significant investment in order to meet demand in the future.
“The student population is very important to the city – they contribute around £300m to the economy a year.”
Brighton rocked by landmark development
A former Co-Op building in London Road , Brighton, faces demolition and replacement with seven-storey halls of residence to housing 400 University of Sussex students.
The building was abandoned several years ago and has stood vacant ever since.
Paul White, of Genesis Town Planning, which is involved in the project, said: “This would be a new landmark and would hopefully spearhead the regeneration of the area. These plans are far from finalised but we are keen to get as much information as possible from local residents on what they want to see.”
Cardiff protestors aim to railroad flats plan
Residents are opposing plans for 249 student flats in a block on the site of former rail sidings at Mynachdy Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff. Last year, they successfully protested against a similar plan for 345 flats which was withdrawn by developers.
Student village building starts in Birmingham
Construction has started on the second phase of a £245 million student village at Birmingham’s Aston University. The project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and will provide 3,000 new beds for student in university halls.
