Frequently Asked Questions

Land and Planning

  • Q.  What land and property has UWE bought?
  • A. 

    In late 2008 the University bought 70 acres of land immediately adjacent to the Frenchay campus from HP. The land includes two very large buildings, additional catering facilities and a former farmhouse. A map showing the land which has been bought, and the existing campus, can been seen on the project information page.

  • Q.  What is UWE planning to build?
  • A. 

    The University's intentions are shown on the consultation drawings. These proposals are subject to Planning Consent and will be informed by this consultation.

    Initially we are undertaking a masterplanning exercise involving staff, students, employers and other partners to determine what will work best for the whole campus. This takes into account the modern learner and will be supportive of modern learning approaches.

    This masterplanning exercise is sensitive to the needs of both businesses and the community and is identifying how we can build better relationships.

  • Q.  What changes will there be to the existing Frenchay campus?
  • A. 

    There are no firm proposals yet. This is one of the subjects which is being addressed as part of the masterplanning process.

Timescale

  • Q.  What is happening at the moment?
  • A. 

    A team of masterplanners, town planners, surveyors and transport consultants is working with UWE and has prepared a draft masterplan, which identifies in broad terms the changes to be made to the existing Frenchay campus and the layout of the new buildings and infrastructure on the new land. 

    Staff, students, stakeholders and members of the public are currently being consulted as part of this process and details of how to get involved can be found in the Have Your Say section of this website.

  • Q.  What will be happening in the future?
  • A. 

    The draft masterplan will  be submitted to South Gloucestershire Council in late 2009, with final masterplan submission to the council in 2010. It is anticipated that detailed planning applications for specific buildings and infrastructure works will come forward in 2010.

  • Q.  When will a planning application be submitted?
  • A. 

    The first project arising from the masterplan will probably go to planning in 2010.

  • Q.  When will work start?
  • A. 

    The first projects arising from the masterplan are due to start on site in 2010 or 2011.

Transport and Traffic

  • Q.  Will there be additional car parking spaces?
  • A. 

    The number of car parking spaces is controlled by the local authority planners – as part of the masterplanning exercise we will be entering into discussions with the planners on car parking provision, but given their current policies we do not expect additional spaces to become available. The University has inherited some car parking spaces with the new land. Some of these may eventually be used by the University, dependent upon the outcome of the masterplanning exercise. The objective of the University Travel Plan remains to reduce the overall parking needs of the University over time.

  • Q.  How is the University going to reduce parking at Frenchay?
  • A. 

    The University Travel plan is considering the following to reduce parking demand; additional on site student accommodation, further use of distance learning, off site academic delivery with employers, further investment in public transport, improving cycle and pedestrian provision, car sharing, needs based allocation of parking permits and car park charging policy.

  • Q.  Will there be new public transport provision for the campus?
  • A. 

    This will be determined during the masterplanning process. It is likely that there will be new provision as a result of UWE travel planning policies.

Consultation

  • Q.  What opportunities will there be for staff, students, partner organisations, businesses, members of the public and anyone else interested to get involved in the consultation?
  • A. 

    This website is being regularly updated with detailed information about the project and related consultation events. If you visit the Have Your Say page you can find details of upcoming consultation events and can complete an online questionnaire to let us know what you think about key issues we are examining as we draw up the draft masterplan for the project. If you want to take part in a more detailed technical discussion about those issues or raise new questions, you can log in to our online forum.

Students

  • Q.  Will there be an overall increase in the number of students at UWE?
  • A. 

    The forecast overall student population of UWE does not change significantly in the foreseeable future. The population at Frenchay may well increase as a result of the consolidation of Glenside and St Matthias onto the Frenchay site.

  • Q.  Will there be more students living on campus?
  • A. 

    Yes. The masterplan includes provision for approximately 1000 new bedrooms.

  • Q.  Will students currently studying at St Matthias or Glenside be moved?
  • A. 

    St Matthias students will be moved to Frenchay over the next two years. Glenside students will not be moved until circa 2016.

University

  • Q.  Will this mean closing other campuses?
  • A. 

    The aim longer term is to achieve greater cohesion and integration of subject areas and services by consolidating the University to the Frenchay campus. The purchase of the new land is a major opportunity for us to progress this. We will be looking to transfer provision and services to the new campus first from St Matthias and then Glenside and also from Bristol Business Park. A longterm aim is to transfer Bower Ashton but this is unlikely to happen for at least another 15 years. Any change will be done in a measured way and subject to masterplanning involving staff, students and other partners.

  • Q.  What are the benefits of a bigger campus?
  • A. 

    The consolidated campus will enable UWE to transform the way it works, improve the student and staff experience, integrate the University's education delivery for those studying course modules previously delivered over different sites, increase its effectiveness, improve its efficiency and reduce travel needs.

  • Q.  Who will get new buildings?
  • A. 

    The proposed use of the new buildings is shown on the exhibition boards from the October consultation. There has been no final decision about which department will occupy particular buildings. This will be determined as the implementation plan is developed.

  • Q.  Are they any changes proposed to the uses of S and R blocks?
  • A. 

    No, the masterplan does not propose any changes.

Finance

  • Q.  How will UWE fund the development?
  • A. 

    UWE is funding the development through a mixture of borrowing, grant funding, receipts from disposals, income from commercial ventures and from its reserves.

  • Q.  How much is UWE investing in the New Campus?
  • A. 

    The masterplan is expected to be implemented over the next 25 years. The spend in the first ten years is expected to be circa £150 million.

Wider Benefits

  • Q.  What are the community benefits?
  • A. 

    The consolidated campus is intended to be more open to the community and there will be access to a range of the University's professional development, entertainment, shopping and a range of sports facilities, as well as improved transport links.

  • Q.  What will is offer businesses?
  • A. 

    The consolidated improved campus will offer increased opportunities for Continuous Professional Development, training, research and business partnerships. The masterplan also includes a Research and Enterprise park for academically linked business use.