Councillors give their support to new university for Shropshire

Work to create a new university for Shropshire took another step forward this week after councillors gave their support to the project and the further investigation of potential sites.

The University of Chester, Shropshire Council and ip&e, the Shropshire Council-owned company, have been working with a range of partners to develop the plans for the new university, which could provide unprecedented opportunities for students and the county.

It is anticipated that the university would help create thousands of jobs in the region, and ultimately create around £60m per year for the local economy.

The institution would be created through support and guidance from the University of Chester in its early days but would, in time, seek its own self-governing status and ultimately become a free-standing university.

At a meeting of full Council today (Thursday 17 July 2014), councillors gave their backing to the next stages in establishing the new university, including work to bring a range of sites forward for detailed consideration in September.

The report discussed by full Council lists a number of sites in Shrewsbury which could potentially be used by the new university as teaching or student accommodation – although officers are keen to stress that discussions are still taking place and no decisions have yet been made.

Sites being suggested for consideration include Rowley’s House, which is currently being used as a base for the University of Chester and council project team; The Guildhall in Frankwell; Shirehall on Abbey Foregate; Frankwell and Abbey Foregate car parks; along with the former reference library building.

The University of Chester and Shropshire Council are also at an early stage of exploring options for collaboration around the main Shrewsbury Library.  In the long-term this could result in an improved service for residents.

Detailed feasibility work will now be commissioned to bring forward detailed proposals for these sites.  Aspects to be considered include which potential combination of sites, or parts of sites, might be best for students, staff, residents, businesses and wider partners.  The work will also look at how the plans can fit with and benefit existing services.  Any potential impact on car parking in Shrewsbury town centre will also be considered as part of the feasibility work.

Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:

“Since my election as Leader of Shropshire Council, I’ve been convinced that a new university would be a brilliant achievement for Shrewsbury and Shropshire.  In driving these plans forward with University of Chester colleagues, what’s been obvious all along is our shared enthusiasm to make this happen.

“There’s still a lot of work ahead, particularly to ensure that the right sites are found, but we’ll get on with this as quickly as we can and then report back once this work is completed.

“As I’ve said before, the university really will be win-win for everyone in the county, and it’ll provide a massive boost to the county’s economy.  We’ll be working closely with local people, businesses and councillors to make sure we maximise the benefits – and to address any concerns people might have.  But I do feel that there are exciting times ahead for Shrewsbury and Shropshire.”

Councillors also agreed to give delegated authority to the chief executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to invest up to £1 million developing the proposals.

The University of Chester is providing significant staff time and resources in developing the proposals, investing more than £500,000 before the end of the academic year.

The student accommodation needs to be available by September 2015, for the first planned undergraduate admissions.  Recommendations for its location are being developed through the Master Plan for the new university, and will be subject to the normal planning process.

Professor Tim Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester, added:

“Today’s decision marks an important stage in the development of plans for a new university, which will be of the high quality and distinctiveness that the county deserves.

“We have been talking to people across Shropshire about the potential opportunities ahead. The next steps will consider how, together, we turn this vision into reality.

“We want to create a learning and research environment that is linked to local needs, helps our graduates to be highly resilient entrepreneurs equipped to make a real difference, complements existing further education and higher education in Shropshire, and enhances the local economy.

“We will now look in more detail at specific aspects such as location and curriculum to achieve these aims, and what options can provide the most benefits for our future students, staff, residents, businesses, and wider partners.”