Sussex seeks student views on the development of East Slope
The University will be engaging with students in the next few weeks about future development of the East Slope residences on campus.
The plans to redevelop East Slope have long been part of the overall masterplan – first created in 2004 – for the development of the campus. These plans are being revised and developed to incorporate the planned further growth in student numbers.
The University will be seeking partners to work on the finance and construction of new residences, so that Sussex capital investment can be focused on teaching, research and social needs.
Charles Dudley, Director of Residential, Sport and Trading Services, says: “We take student views and feedback as a key part of the long-term development of housing. We want the student community involved and informed as we move plans forward.
“This includes seeking ideas about the design of a future East Slope and the social and other infrastructure required to support this development and the extra student residences on campus.
“Current and former students often speak affectionately about their time living in East Slope, as well as its flaws. During the consultation process, the Project Board is hoping to capture those elements of the current East Slope design that work from a resident’s perspective.”
Under current plans, the new East Slope would be built in phases from 2015-16 onwards and the current East Slope residences would start to be removed in autumn 2016.
The University is now discussing with the Students’ Union how best to get students involved in contributing their ideas for East Slope. The University’s overall housing strategy is updated and regularly discussed with the Students’ Union.
The University conducts an annual exit survey with student residents, with up to 1,000 students responding each year, and seeks feedback from the network of Residential Advisers (RAs).