University of Sussex to appeal against planning decision
University of Sussex to appeal against planning decision. The University of Sussex intends to appeal against Brighton & Hove City Council's Planning Committee's decision to turn down an outline application to modernise its campus. The plans, which represent a potential £500 million investment in the local economy, provide a framework for the future development of the University and include provision for: New state-of-the art academic and research facilities 2,500 new student rooms on campus and facilities to support this expansion Preservation of architect Sir Basil Spence's famous listed buildings and surrounding landscape Creation of an estimated 2,400 new jobs in the local community The University, which currently employs 2,200 people and supports a further 1,500 local jobs, states the plans, which were turned down by the Council in June 2014, are vital to maintain its standing among the top one per cent of universities in the world. Professor Michael Farthing, the University of Sussex's Vice-Chancellor, said: "We need to modernise and expand our facilities if we are to continue to attract the best and brightest academics and students as well as provide jobs that benefit thousands of local families. "The University of Sussex is currently ranked 14th in the UK and is in the top one per cent of universities in the world. This is a huge achievement, but we can't take it for granted. Some of our facilities are more than 40 years old and we need to invest now to secure a bright future for the University and for Brighton." If the plans are given the go ahead, the University can start to provide more accommodation and services for students on campus and help the City to meet its housing objectives.
