PADGATE Campus has been earmarked for residential development as the University of Chester prepares to relocate to two new sites in Warrington town centre.
Back in January last year the University announced its ambitious plans to move into the town centre.
This decision resulted from an extensive review involving both staff and students, which identified the need to reconsider the current ‘Padgate campus’ location in favour of a site that is fit for purpose for current and future demand.
Acting on this feedback, the University has now completed the refurbishment of their Time Square site next to Cineworld and renovation is well underway at their Sarah Parker Remond House site, where the majority of their teaching will take place, just two minutes’ walk away in Barbauld Street.
From September, all teaching (with the exception of Police Apprenticeships) will be delivered from the new University Centre Warrington.
In a joint statement Professor Vice-Chancellor Eunice Simmons and Deputy Provost, University Centre Warrington, Dr Brendan O’Sullivan said: “Our prime position, benefitting from high footfall, will enable more people to engage directly with the University and will allow students and staff easy access to public transport and leisure and retail facilities. We will hold an official ‘opening’ of the new buildings in early September.
“We have considered the options for the Padgate site, in close consultation with Warrington Borough Council and following advice from property consultants. We have now taken the decision to offer the site for sale as a residential development opportunity.
“We will be seeking to appoint a developer to fulfil key University objectives, including construction which meets high standards of environmental sustainability and delivers a positive long-term legacy. A marketing advertisement for the site will be published week commencing 4 April.”
Warrington Wolves, whose training facilities are currently at Padgate, are expected to remain there until November 2023 and the Police Apprenticeships will be taught from the on-site ‘Tucker Building’ until the end of the 2022/23 academic year.
Care will be taken to preserve campus history, in discussions with alumni, and there will be an upcoming event celebrating the history of Padgate campus in late spring/early summer.
University set to vacate Padgate Campus and relocate to Warrington town centre
1 Comment
Heard about the proposals last year (on here I think). Its a HUGE site so presumably plans have already been drawn up for an equally HUGE new housing development on the site. Anyone now just how many houses ?? as its not really that far from the site of the new, and unwanted, Peel Hall Park housing development.