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 from above – take a look behind the scenes of West Slope
Posted on behalf of: The Transforming Sussex team
Last updated: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Figure 1, pictured left to right: James Hann, Sarah Evans, John Kallend, Elena Southard, and Lewis Wilson, pictured on one of the West Slope student accommodation buildings currently under construction.
On a soggy February afternoon, the Student’s Union joined the West Slope team for a first glimpse behind the scenes on the West Slope construction site.
First stop on the tour was a walk around what will soon become our new Health and Wellbeing Centre. The Ground Floor and Second Floor will be dedicated to University Wellbeing Services, and the First Floor will be the new home of our campus’ NHS GP service, with student accommodationon the top levels.
Next, James Hann, Students’ Union Chief Executive, Elena Southard, Student Living and Sustainability Officer, and Lewis Wilson,Education and Employability Officer, were shown around a new student accommodation building, one of the first set to open to students in September 2026.
Located next to Lewes Court residences, this large U-shaped building will be home to 235 students and will also house the West Slope residents’ reception and a new Launderette. Within the courtyard there will be outdoor space and a half-sized basketball court.
James Hann, Students’ Union Chief Executive said: “It was fascinating to see how the construction is coming together and to get a real understanding of what the finished site will look like. The health and safety of those on site was clearly a high priority for all concerned and this was demonstrated by the zero number of RIDDOR reportable incidents.
The approach to preserving a lot of existing trees on site and interacting with sustainable consultation in the construction is commendable, and putting accessibility and welfare at the forefront of design will hopefully have a massive impact on our future students.”
West Slope from above
Watch our latest ‘Seagull POV’ video to see West Slope taking shape. Made using drone footage from our construction partners Balfour Beatty, the footage was taken on the morning of the Students’ Union site tour. Watch to see the new Health and Wellbeing Centre and student accommodation under construction, as well as the footprint of many more buildings to come.
When will West Slope be ready?
With our new Health and Wellbeing Centre and the first of our student accommodation rooms opening next year, the site is well under development. Following the opening of these new buildings, construction of the rest of the development will be ongoing, with more student accommodation rooms and amenities opening in 2027 and 2028.
You can stay up to date with the latest on all of our projects through our Viva Engage communities, including: Creating a Better Campus; Food at Sussex; Transforming Sussex; Campus travel and transport