University unveils new £100m student village
BBCA university has unveiled its new £100m student village which will provide 700 new and 300 refurbished bedrooms.
The accommodation at the University of Staffordshire comprises a mix of en-suite dormitories and town houses.
A "village hub" has also been built to provide a wellbeing space, study areas, a rooftop terrace and a place to host events.
Explorer and tv presenter Maj Levison Wood, chancellor at the university, said the new space would allow students to see the campus with "new eyes".
Wood also put the first spade in the ground to start the scheme in 2024.
The new facility opened on schedule in time for the new term, with students moving into the village this week ahead of their courses starting later this month.
Woods, who has overseen the university as chancellor for three years, said he had noticed a lot of change in that time.
"[The university] is a real pioneer in lots of departments, particularly in areas like e-sports, gaming and technology.
"This university is at the forefront of a lot of modern stuff."
The university's vice-chancellor and chief executive Phillip Plowden said: "At the heart of [the project] is the students' money that has been invested into something which is very much student facing and is about ensuring their learning experience is as good as it can possibly be."
Alongside the dormitories the university has also spent £10m on the hub facilities.
The existing Clarice Cliff Court accommodation has also been refurbished as part of the project.
The university now has plans to further develop the site by demolishing some of its old halls of residence situated by the River Trent.
This would make green spaces that will connect to the nearby nature reserve as well as an 800m footpath around the site for walkers and runners.
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