University reveals £75m campus plan

May 10 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

UNIVERSITY chiefs in Sunderland yesterday revealed £75m plans to transform its city centre campus. The scheme on Chester Road includes a sport and recreation facility, hotel and conferencing facilities, student accommodation and University Square.

It will complement the award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s on the riverside will be centred on ‘CitySpace’, an £11m sports and recreation facility with a six-badminton court sports hall, a 70-station fitness suite, a sports massage and injuries centre and an indoor climbing wall.

University Sport Sunderland will be based in the new building, on Chester Road, which will cater for the university’s athletes and the region’s professional sports stars. It will also be a strong addition to the university’s attraction for international athletes arriving for the London Olympics in 2012. It has already named one of the potential training camps for teams for the Games.

Professor Peter Fidler, the university’s vice-chancellor, said: “We are committed to ensuring that our current and future students receive the best possible experience. This vision for our City Campus, I am sure, will help us achieve that. Equally, staff and the community will also enjoy these fantastic new facilities. This latest phase in our long-term development highlights our commitment to our students, our community, our city and our region.”