Pictured above: An artist's impression of the new
University College Birmingham building in the Jewellery
Quarter
University College Birmingham (UCB) plans to build a brand new
campus on four acres on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter,
delegates to MIPIM 2010, the global property conference in Cannes,
have learned.
Coun Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, made the
announcement as one of a series of previews of new schemes taking
place over the next ten years - the Decade of Delivery - as this
year's Birmingham mission to MIPIM is being themed.
"The plans will be presented to the college board later this
month and such is the interest in what we are doing in Birmingham
that over 190 firms of architects in the UK, Europe and the US have
already registered an interest in working with us," he
revealed.
UCB Principal Prof Ray Linforth said the intention was, over
time, to develop a new campus on land bounded by George Street,
Holland Street and Charlotte Street.
The college already owns two acres and is under contract to
purchase an adjoining site of similar size.
UCB, formerly known as Birmingham College of Food, Tourism &
Creative Studies, currently operates from 177,000 sq ft premises in
Summer Row and also owns Richmond House (60,000 sq ft) in Newhall
Street.
The intention is to develop the new campus in three phases
starting with circa 80,000 sq ft which will house a new student hub
that will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the
benefit mainly of higher education students, giving them round the
clock access to suit their individual requirements.
The first phase will also include a new post-graduate centre and
additional classrooms plus interlinking social space.
The initial phase will cost £20 million, which Prof
Linforth said would be funded from reserves and UCB plans to have
the first part of the new campus open by 2013.
"This will be the largest capital project in the Jewellery
Quarter in the next few years and will be a significant catalyst in
the economic regeneration of the area," said Prof Linforth.