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.
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.
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.
Latest news
West Slope is already improving campus
Posted on behalf of: Better Campus Team
Last updated: Tuesday, 30 July 2024
West Slope may be under construction, but campus is already benefiting
West Slope aims to enhance the student experience on campus by adding new modern student accommodation, a new purpose-built Health and Wellbeing Centre and a new café and larger supermarket and will help to make campus more accessible and more sustainable.
Benefiting from West Slope
West Slope may be under construction, but campus is already benefiting from this transformational project.
Over the last two years we have been upgrading essential utilities such as gas, water, and power.Overcoming complex challenges presented by 60-year-old infrastructure, and whilst keeping a busy campus running, a staggering 1034m of new water mains, 1000m new electrical cabling, 650m new heating pipework, 550m of new drainage and 540m gas pipework have been installed, ensuring these hidden but vital services have the resilience to serve campus for decades to come.
Key university services have also been moved and improved, ensuring students are already benefitting from West Slope, including:
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A new student laundrette next to Swanborough residences;
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A new Basketball Court next to Northfield residences;
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A new children’s playgroundnear to family accommodation;
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A new Security Centre and 24/7 residential reception in Bramber House;
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Relocated the Print Unit to Hastings; and
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Relocated Roots Student Garden.
Getting ready to build West Slope - University of Sussex from Creating a better campus on Vimeo.
Sustainable Sussex
West Slope is being built to environmental building standard BREEAM Excellent, an assessment that measures the environmental performance of construction and the sustainability of the final buildings - for instance, almost all the rubble from the demolition of 54 outdated buildings has already been reused within the construction site, and green roofs, water recycling and solar panels will make our final buildings more sustainable.
As the construction site has taken shape, student and staff photography, sketches, paintings and more, have also been added to the boarder of the construction site,seizing the opportunity to proudlyshowcase the fantastic range of creative talent of our community here at Sussex.
Student wellbeing prioritised
The Health and Wellbeing Centre will be our first new West Slope building to open in summer 2026, with the first West Slope accommodation rooms available to students for the 2026/27 academic year. Foundations are currently being laid and we will seeourWest Slope buildings taking shape over the next year.
Did you know that West Slope will comprise of 22 new buildings across 12 acres of campus? To keep up-to-date with West Slope and other campus developments, join our Better Campus community on Viva Engage.