Update on student accommodation plans

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

Sibly tower

Plans and timeframes for the future development of the University's student accommodation are beginning to take shape, with phase one of the halls project nearing completion, phase two timetables confirmed and the proposals for the sale of the Sibly Hall site due to be unveiled at an exhibition on 3 July.

Sibly

As part of its plans to concentrate student accommodation on the Whiteknights campus, the University has announced its proposals to close Sibly Hall at the end of the academic year 2011/12 and to sell the land for housing development.

An exhibition of the proposals, which includes the demolition of Sibly Tower and the construction of around 100 high quality homes, will be on display at Sibly Hall on Saturday 3 July. Key components of the plans include safeguarding and enhancing the adjacent Redhatch Copse woodland area and the re-location of the telecommunications transmitters on the site. Student accommodation for the next two academic years at Sibly will not be affected.

Phase one - Whiteknights Hall development

Phase one of the Whiteknights halls development, which includes Mackinder Hall, Stenton Hall and the Windsor Hub buildings, is reaching its final stages with major construction complete and the project teams concentrating on the fit out of the buildings ready for occupation from the new academic year. 

Phase two

Phase two of the halls project will be getting underway shortly. It includes the decommissioning of Bridges Hall this summer and the demolition and re-development of Childs Hall, later this year. Childs Hall dates back to the mid 1960's and are now tired and past their best. They will be replaced with new, environmentally-friendly halls which will enhance the student experience and provide innovative and modern facilities.

The style and feel of the new buildings will mirror those of the phase one halls and be a mix of that style with some townhouses built around central courtyards. Preparatory works will take place in June but the main decommissioning and demolition of the existing Childs Hall will commence in July after students have left for the summer break.  The new halls will be ready for occupation by summer 2012.

Sibly Hall will, therefore, be surplus to requirement in a few years' time as students who might have lived in the tower will now have new accommodation on Whiteknights from which to choose.