Developing the West Slope

Find out about our West Slope development – a mix of student housing and spaces for learning, socialising and student wellbeing services.

About West Slope

This development is the next step in our vision of being a better university for a better world and is the most ambitious programme we have undertaken in recent years.

Nestled below the South Downs, the West Slope development will be transformative and create new residential, learning, wellbeing and commercial spaces.

Inspired by Sussex’s original architect, Sir Basil Spence, the West Slope development will borrow colours and textures from the South Downs surrounding us and complement our existing campus architecture while being thoroughly modern in its design and function.

Residences

We plan to add about 1,900 new beds as part of the West Slope development programme. The accommodation will be a mixture of single bedroom villas, apartments and townhouses. We will also build new two-bedroom family apartments and fully adaptable rooms with carers’ rooms.

Wellbeing

In the creation of a new Health and Wellbeing Centre, we will be able to offer an integrated therapeutic space, Primary Care Network services, and community services. The centre will break away from the traditional clinical feel to create a welcoming, accessible and safe environment.

Social spaces

New social and retail spaces will be created as part of the West Slope development. A new supermarket and cafe will enhance our commercial offering to students, giving better access to everyone.

We will also build a brand new children’s playground next to new family accommodation, giving families a space to gather, play and enjoy their surroundings.

A place for learning

As part of our Library and Study Environment Programme, we also have plans to add more library study spaces. Planning permission has been secured for a new Library Pavilion, which will be distinctive, inclusive and encourage the exploration of new ways of learning. We are not afraid to disrupt the conventional view of anacademic library and will work with students to use experimental approaches to provide space and digital content. The Library Pavilion will be accessible to all and offer a choice of flexible working environments.

Accessible for all

We want everyone to have access to the same facilities and experiences when they are at Sussex.

Many of our buildings are historically challenging to access. The new West Slope development creates an opportunity to build with access as a priority.

Step-free routes will have gentle gradients. Internal and external lifts and bridges will connect different spaces offering a more universal experience to our students and staff.

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The whole precinct should have the ‘sense of a university’ and should, if possible, grow out of the soil of Sussex to become a natural part of this beautiful site.” Sir Basil Spence
Architect of the original Sussex campus buildings, 1961

We will also use green roof technology to encourage biodiversity in our soft landscaping.

Water conservation and a waste management will also be thoughtfully engineered throughout.

Read more about how important sustainability is to the University.

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You might also be interested in:

• how to get here
• enhancing our landscape and environment
• visiting our campus.