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The proposals build on the successful redevelopment and expansion of the University of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½’s Moulsecoomb campus – which has seen the creation of new halls of residence, new sport, leisure and Students’ Union facilities and a landmark new home for the School of Business and Law – and will see the university consolidating its provision on three campuses within Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½.  

The decision to approve the proposals follows a ten-week public consultation which took place between October and December 2021. The university engaged with staff, students and a wide range of partners and stakeholders to develop a clear understanding of the impacts of its proposals. More than 700 responses were received, with the majority of respondents agreeing that the proposals were the best way of ensuring that the university achieves its long-term objectives.

Checkland Building at Falmer

The university will now embark on an ambitious programme to create dynamic, modern, accessible and sustainable campuses that give the best possible experience to all the university’s 18,000 students and 2,400 staff. Each of the university’s seven academic schools will be ultimately co-located on single campuses within Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ – at Falmer, Moulsecoomb and City – with investment focused on providing high-quality new facilities to support each school’s distinctive academic vision. New student hubs will provide lively and vibrant facilities for them to socialise, access services and feel part of the campus community. 

Professor Debra Humphris, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½, said:

“This is a momentous decision for everyone associated with the University of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½. We can now move forward with a bold and ambitious vision for the future of our University, built around a shared desire to provide the very best experience for our students and staff.  

“This next stage of investment will enable us to continue to develop our estate as vibrant and inspiring student-focused campuses. They will help our academic schools to thrive, nurturing the leaders of tomorrow and delivering world-class research to help solve some of the most critical global challenges we face. And they will put us on a sustainable financial footing for the long term and help us meet our commitment to become a net-zero carbon university.” 

As part of the plans, significant investment will take place over the next two years at the university’s Moulsecoomb and Falmer campuses. At Falmer, the repurposing of the site previously occupied by Virgin Active will enable the School of Sport and Health Sciences – currently split across Falmer and Eastbourne campuses – to come together on an expanded Falmer campus. This means that the university’s Eastbourne campus including the Leaf Hospital will close by the start of the 2024-25 academic year. 

During the consultation period, university leaders met key partners and stakeholders to understand the impact of the proposals, including the closure of Eastbourne campus. Partners have been reassured that the university remains firmly committed to its role supporting education, outreach, health and social care, and innovation, skills and business growth across East Sussex and beyond.

This includes the continuation of close working relationships with partner organisations such as Business East Sussex, Chambers of Commerce, the NHS and local authorities. The university will continue to support regional policy and infrastructure programmes, develop and deliver programmes to support skills, and work with individual businesses to support innovation via successful programmes such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and the Green Growth Platform.

The university also remains committed to its extensive outreach programme which has involved more than 1,700 school and college students in Eastbourne over the last three academic years as well as sponsorship of the University of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Academies Trust schools which includes several schools in East Sussex.

Professor Humphris continued:

“Our Eastbourne campus is an important part of the university’s history and heritage. While we may not continue to have a physical presence in Eastbourne in the future, the University of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ remains firmly committed to its role supporting people and businesses across East Sussex and beyond. We have a strong track record of working in partnership in our region and that will only grow stronger as we move forward with our plans.”

Find out more about our plans in our Prospectus for Change.