A new four storey block is set to be built at the University of Bolton as it continues to expand its campus.
Plans have been lodged this week for the new building, which will have a capacity of up to 5,000 sqm at the Deane campus on Deane Road.
In proposals published by Bolton Council, the university says the new building will ‘increase education in order to secure the ability for the university to enhance its current science, technical, engineering and maths, (STEM) courses across the campus'.
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A design and access statement produced for the university by architects Spawforths, said: “The expansion to the university will allow the re-balancing of existing facilities as required to maximise future provision for students.
“The site is well located to form part of the university campus, within a short walk of other buildings.
“The primary building elevation will form a recognisable corner as it is seen from the corner of Deane Road and College Way, and primary frontage will continue around College Way.
“The maximum building extents have been established to provide at least 5,000sqm of floorspace over no more than four storeys.”
The report adds that the approximate height of the building will be around 16 metres and that the proposed development will not overlook any smaller residential buildings and ‘is an appropriate scale of development for the area’.
The report added: “The layout has been designed to enhance and reinforce the shape of The Sward. The building will complete the oval and enclose the outdoor space for students. This will increase privacy for students from passing traffic on College Way and provide a more sheltered space.”
The university has seen a rapid expansion since the former Bolton Institute successfully achieved university status in 2004, with
significant extensions to the campus taking place since then.
The site has a industrial heritage common to Bolton having been the site of a cotton mill complex known as Crooks Mill/Holts Mill. The mill was demolished 2014 and site was then developed as UTC Bolton, a university technical college sponsored by the University of Bolton.
The building was established at the university campus in September 2015. Planners at Bolton Council will decide on the proposals at a date yet to be decided.
