Plans for Bulmershe campus submitted to local authority

Monday, 23 January 2012

Artist's impression of Bulmershe redevelopment

The University has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of its Bulmershe campus, which is scheduled to close in summer 2012.

The proposal, which follows a public exhibition on the plans last summer, will replace redundant academic buildings with new homes and convert six of the student accommodation blocks into apartments.

The existing playing fields will be retained and enhanced for University and community recreational use and will include a new sports pavilion. There will also be a care home and neighbourhood shop(s) as part of the development.

The Department of Film, Theatre and Television has already moved from Bulmershe to its new home in the Minghella Building on Whiteknights and the Institute of Education has just relocated from Bulmershe to the London Road campus.

This is in keeping with the University's plan to concentrate its teaching and student accommodation facilities on its Whiteknights and London Road campuses. Hence, the student accommodation at Bulmershe will no longer be required beyond the end of the 2011/12 academic year as replacement accommodation comes on stream on the Whiteknights campus.

Professor Tony Downes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor said: "The University of Reading has developed plans for a high-quality residential development for the soon-to-be redundant Bulmershe campus site, which will provide much needed housing for the area and improve the neighbouring playing fields for community and University use.

"While it will be sad to leave Bulmershe after more than 20 years, we do so in the knowledge that we are investing in the best facilities to train future generations of teachers at London Road and providing the best student accommodation in the sector, conveniently located on our main campus."