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New City Campus for Birmingham City University

5000/BL Thursday 17th January 2008

Birmingham City University has signed a deal with Birmingham City Council to acquire a 4.1 acre site in Birmingham’s Eastside to build a 37,000 sq m new campus. The deal has been supported by Advantage West Midlands, who designated this area the ‘Learning & Leisure Quarter’ and which is now home to a growing number of learning organisations.

Mick Laverty, Chief Executive of Advantage West Midlands said: “We are delighted that Birmingham City University has committed to base their city centre campus in Eastside. The vision of Advantage West Midlands and the City Council has been to boost Birmingham's learning and leisure provision through the development at Eastside and securing this deal will play a huge part in the ongoing regeneration of this part of the city.”

The university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor David Tidmarsh said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a very special campus location focussed on creative arts; performing arts; technology and design; construction and media.  With an expected price tag of around £130m, this is a very significant development for Birmingham City University and is a major plank in the achievement of our plans to grow the university by 50% over the next 10 years.”

The new campus will encompass the university’s existing space in Millennium Point and the New Technology Institute and an international firm of architects, BDP, have already started work on the master plan.  The aim is to create space which will inspire teaching, learning, research and knowledge transfer and be connected to the surrounding developments and the city.

The university is proposing a campus design which will include a new Birmingham Conservatoire building with a concert hall; be the focus of the university’s Skillset Media Academy and house a significant part of the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design. It will be a centre for cultural and creative activities with an international reputation.

Birmingham City University will continue to support the Regional Economic Strategy and work closely with employers and commercial organisations, especially from the Creative Industries sector.

Councillor Neville Summerfield, cabinet member for regeneration at Birmingham City Council said: “Eastside is Birmingham's biggest City Centre regeneration project and having Birmingham City University build a new campus at the heart of it will have an enormously beneficial impact on the area.”

Also see the dedicated City Centre campus microsite.

About Birmingham City University

For further information please contact Birmingham City University Media Relations Office on 0121 331 6738, email press@bcu.ac.uk or out of hours on 07967 271 532.