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University's teaching centre plan gets green light

David WilsonBBC News NI
News imageUlster University An architect's design illustration of a new teaching centre planned for the university in Derry. It shows a red brick, tall building, and a white brick building linked by a bridge. The buildings are on the side of a road.Ulster University
The new centre will link via a bridge to existing on campus buildings

Plans for a new teaching and student centre at the Ulster University (UU) campus in Londonderry have been approved by councillors in the city.

The state-of-the art-centre is being funded by the Irish government's Shared Island Fund.

It will see the construction of a new multi-storey teaching building at the Derry campus, connected by a bridge linking it to existing campus buildings.

Professor Paul Seawright, UU deputy vice-chancellor, said the planning approval marks "a significant advancement" in the project's delivery.

Chair of Derry City and Strabane District Council's planning committee Sinn Féin councillor Pat Murphy said the new centre will "provide modern, high-quality facilities that will support students, staff and the wider university community for many years to come."

News imageUU The university campus in Londonderry. A number of bushes and grassy areas can be seen in front of a Gothic-looking building with several large windows.UU
The expansion of the university campus has long been regarded as a catalyst for economic growth in the north west

The expansion of the university in Derry - commonly known as Magee Campus - has long been regarded as a catalyst for economic growth in the north west.

It has 6,500 students with a target to reach 10,000 by 2032.

The 10,000 student target was included in New Decade, New Approach (NDNA), which restored Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive in 2020.

Last month, a Stormont committee was told that 2032 expansion target is currently under review.

Meanwhile, UU announced in April it needed to make savings of about £25m and would be making up to 450 staff redundant.

News imageUlster University An architect's impression of the new centre's teaching and seminar space. It shows rows of tiers seating facing a board. A number of people are standing in the foregorundUlster University
An architect's impression of the new centre's teaching and seminar space

The university said construction on the new centre would start later this year.

It said the centre will balance the campus' historic character with modern architectural elements and will include:

  • Interactive and flexible teaching and seminar spaces to accommodate 15 – 350 students.
  • Computer labs designed to support learning, creativity and research.
  • Open plan and private break out spaces for collaborative working.
  • Welcoming student services hub and office spaces designed to encourage students to access support.
  • A café for students to catch up and connect and landscaped surroundings.
  • A link bridge to UU's existing library building.

The Dublin government's minister for higher education James Lawless said the "new facility will provide modern, high-quality teaching, learning and student spaces, helping to attract and support students from across the island and further afield. "