University’s Business School and Growth Hub plans given the green light

The University of Gloucestershire’s expansion plans for its Oxstalls campus in Gloucester have been given the go-ahead.

Gloucester City Council’s planning committee granted permission on Tuesday (7 February) on the final design for the new Business School and Growth Hub which will be relocated from Cheltenham.

New student halls of residence, to be developed by Cityheart, in Gloucester city centre were also approved on the Blackfriars site to accommodate the growth in students the University is expecting when the new business school opens.

This marks the next major step for the University towards realising its ambitious vision to develop new facilities for teaching, business services, sports and student accommodation in Gloucester. The Oxstalls development plans have been developed in partnership with the City and County Councils, Aspire Sports & Cultural Trust, the Local Enterprise Partnership, and a range of local and national sports governing bodies.

The flagship building will be the new home for the University’s Business School and it will host the innovative ‘Make It’ programme, which guarantees all business students the opportunity to work with different types of businesses, in the UK and overseas, as part of their undergraduate degree. This is part of the University’s wider commitment to equip all of its students with the skills, experience and capability that will prepare them for rewarding future careers. The building will also provide space to build on and extend the success of the University’s Growth Hub, established with support from the Higher Education Funding Council and in partnership with GFirst LEP. Since its opening in October 2014, the Growth Hub has welcomed 7,000 visitors, and is working with over 500 high growth/high value businesses.

See the Oxstalls development fly-through here.

Vice-Chancellor Stephen Marston said: “We are delighted that the City Planning Committee have approved these plans and we can now start the work to transform the Oxstalls campus. The University is committed to playing an active part in promoting the economic, sporting, cultural and social wellbeing of the City and the County. These plans enable us to achieve a step change in the contribution we can make for the benefit of the City, as well as providing excellent facilities for our students.”

The University is planning to open the new Business School and The Growth Hub in September 2018 with the accommodation at Blackfriars opening at the same time.