Developing the West Slope
Learn about how we are growing our campus.
Campus development
We’re investing in making the University of Sussex better. Through our campus development, we can maintain our position as one of the world’s leading academic institutions and attract and work with the best and brightest minds.
Vice-Chancellor Sasha Roseneil presents our campus development plans
- Video transcript
Transcript starts:
Video visuals: Video starts with ariel panoramic views of the University of Sussex before entering the Student Centre.
Vice- Chancellor Sasha Roseneil speaks to camera from the Student Centre:
‘Every building starts as a vision. Our new Student Centre was born out of a vision to enhance the experience of students at Sussex, to provide them with a flexible contemporary space where they can study, socialise and be supported.’
Video visuals: External video of the Student Centre arches featuring Liberty Glasses and Taj Grocers
‘The arches next to our Student Centre, home to local independent businesses, Taj Grocer and Liberty Glasses, came from our ambition to offer more to our students, to be more sustainable, as well as to express our commitment to the Brighton community of which we are proud to be part.’
Video visuals: Video moves from the Student Centre to the inside of the Meeting House showing its stained glass windows, and then to the outside of the Meeting House showing its iconic round shape, and then to ariel views of the Library, Falmer House and the Meeting House, students walking on campus. Video then moves from central campus to views of East Slope showing the outside of our newest student residences on campus.
Vice-Chancellor, Sasha Roseneil, speaks over images:
‘Our Student Centre, much like our iconic Meeting House and our amazing Grade I and II Listed Library and Students Union and teaching spaces is far more than just a building though, far more than the sum of its parts.
Indeed, as you walk around our campus today, all our buildings tell you a little of our history and give you a glimpse of our future. And our history is all around us. The iconic architecture of Sir Basil Spence covers the south of our campus.
While to the east you can visit the new East Slope development, which provides accommodation for over 2000 students and is home to the Student Centre and arches.’
Vice-Chancellor Sasha Roseneil speaks to camera from the Student Centre:
‘And as for the future, it’s plain to see that this is a work in progress.
We’re embarking on the biggest development that our campus has seen in recent years.’
Visuals: An architect’s image of the new West Slope development set in the context of the wider campus, then an architect’s image of some West Slope buildings, and an architect’s image of the new café, then an architect’s image of more West Slope buildings with greenery and an external lift, then an architect’s image of a building’s internal layout, then an architect’s image of accessible routes in West Slope, then architect’s image of the new Health and Wellbeing Centre reception area
Vice-Chancellor, Sasha Roseneil, speaks over images:
‘The West Slope development will be a home away from home for our students.
It will offer a complete on campus experience.
There’ll be nearly 2000 more residential rooms with much needed new accessible rooms and family accommodation and a purpose built Health and Wellbeing Centre to provide crucial services that our students expect and need so that they can thrive.’
Vice-Chancellor Sasha Roseneil speaks to camera from the Student Centre:
‘The West Slope development will make us more accessible, more sustainable and more connected.
And whilst the West Slope may be in its building phase, it’s already delivering improvements.
Already we’ve improved our utilities, making them more resilient.’
Video visuals: Photo of children playing in a new playground near Northfield residences, then a photo of the University of Sussex Women’s Basketball Team on the new basketball court near Northfield residences, then an image of the outside of a new laundrette next to Swanborough residences, then a photo of a student doing their laundry inside the laundrette at a bank of washing machines, then a photo of two security officers outside our new Security Centre at Bramber House.
Vice-Chancellor, Sasha Roseneil, speaks over images:
‘We’ve built a new playground for our campus families and a basketball court next to our Northfield residences.
We’ve also built a new launderette next to our Swanborough residences and have opened a new improved security office located just across from the Student Centre.’
Vice-Chancellor Sasha Roseneil speaks to camera from the Student Centre:
‘In 2026 the new Health and Wellbeing Centre will be opened, and the first new residences will be ready for occupation.’
Video visuals: Architects animation of the new Eat Central café – doors open onto a bright new restaurant with colourful seating and décor.
Vice-Chancellor, Sasha Roseneil, speaks over images:
‘Before then, we’re completing a full refurbishment of our main catering outlet, Eat Central, to provide a more modern environment where students can purchase good value, nutritious food, day and night.
We’re working with our campus community on these plans and look forward to unveiling the revamped space this summer, ready for the new year.’
Vice-Chancellor Sasha Roseneil speaks to camera from the Student Centre:
‘Very excitingly, this year will also start to reap the benefits of works to replace our entire campus internet network, bringing vastly improved speeds to every corner of the campus.
Meaning students will have the same study experience from their bedrooms to the library.
and even in our outside spaces.’Video visuals: ariel images of the University of Sussex Library, and then an architect’s image of the proposed new accessible main entrance to the Library which shows a brick tower in front of the main Library. The video briefly goes back to Vice-Chancellor, Sasha Roseneil speaking to camera, then shows an image of the new student garden.
Vice-Chancellor, Sasha Roseneil, speaks over images:
‘We also hope to start work shortly on a new entrance to our listed library building, meaning our historic architecture will become more easily accessible for everyone in the community.
We even have a new student garden where our green fingered students can do their bit to support our ambition to be one of the most sustainable universities in the world.’
Vice-Chancellor Sasha Roseneil speaks to camera from the Student Centre:
‘And we are already realising that ambition.
In December last year we were placed 26th in the QS World University rankings for sustainability.
From big builds to small changes, we are always investing in our future and in your future.’
Video visuals: Video ends with ariel views of the University of Sussex campus.
Transcript ends.
Latest news
West Slope Update
Posted on behalf of: Campus Development
Last updated: Monday, 16 January 2023
As we reach the end of term, our work to prepare campus for our new West Slope development continues at a pace with lots of work underway to install new gas, electric and water utilities across campus.
Work is continuing along the Arts path as we update sewage pipes to support our new and existing buildings. Over the next few weeks, metal sheets are being installed across a couple of the work areas near to Arts, Jubilee and Essex House – these sheets reinforce the ground around them and create safe work areas. If you’re on campus you may notice additional noise and vibrations whilst these works are underway.
On Monday 12 December, work to widen a section of path along Refectory Road next to the Health Centre will begin. Whilst this work is underway, the zebra crossing opposite the new pharmacy will be closed and the cycle lane shortened. The steps between Refectory Road and the Health Centre will be closed, but the Health Centre remains open and is fully accessible via its main entrance. This work will be ongoing until the beginning of February.
Also starting on Monday 12 December, there will be some arboriculture works on campus. There will be work to remove some trees, and to raise the canopies of other trees – you may notice some noise from machinery whilst this work takes place. We are preserving as many trees as possible on the West Slope, but some need to be removed or have their canopies reduced to allow for our main construction works to start next year. For every two trees removed, five will be planted with a range of varieties to encourage biodiversity on campus. All the works taking places were approved during planning permission for the development and have been scheduled to take place at the recommended time of year for tree works and at a time when campus is quieter,which will help us keep disruption to a minimum.
From the 17 December, the works on the top half of Norwich House Road will be continuing further down the road. This means that there will be no longer be vehicle access to York House, but there will still be pedestrian access to both Norwich House and York House.
From the 23 December, our construction work will pause. To make sure everything remains safe and secure over the Christmas period, we will be increasing security patrols across our work sites. All works will resume again on Tuesday 3 January.
Investing in the student experience
Read about our exciting new Student Centre.
Enhancing our landscape and environment
Explore our grand green spaces.
Preserving our architecture and heritage
Delve into our decades of history.
A better campus
Our experiences of study, work and life over the past few years have highlighted even more keenly the need to provide space that works for all our people – students and staff alike.
We’re investing in making our stunning 60-year-old campus better – with everything from big builds to small changes to our existing space and facilities. These will give us areas that work, providing modern spaces and keeping our historic campus beautiful for another 60 years.
Over the past five years, we have built 2,117 new bedrooms on campus, creating a new student village – East Slope – with a mixture of townhouses and flats as well as study spaces and social hubs. We have also opened the doors of our brand new Student Centre – a multipurpose learning and events space, which as well as being a new hub for student services, offers retail and leisure amenities.
Our next step is the most ambitious programme we have undertaken in recent years. The West Slope development will greatly enhance the student and academic experience, giving the University the infrastructure it needs to continue to be an internationally-recognised centre for excellence, as well as being a covetable place to live, work and forge connections.