Broadcast: News items

The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Theresa Fowler joined Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil and members of the University of Sussex community, to cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony for a brand-new Health and Wellbeing Centre on Saturday 6 June.  

The centre, located on the University of Sussex’s campus in Falmer as part of the new West Slope development, brings together the University’s Wellbeing services and the campuses existing NHS GP practice to work more closely together, reflecting the University of Sussex’s long-term commitment to supporting students and people in the local region.  

Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, Professor Sasha Roseneil, said: “At Sussex, we want every student to thrive - academically, personally, and socially. The Health and Wellbeing Centre is a powerful expression of our commitment to enabling human flourishing. It represents a significant investment in student wellbeing, ensuring that support is not only high-quality, but accessible, joined up, and designed for the future.”  

Spread across three floors, the centre will house NHS GP services on the first floor, with consultation rooms and purpose-built facilities providing a significant improvement in access to healthcare for both students and residents. 

The second floor will be dedicated to the University’s therapeutic services, providing quiet, comfortable, and confidential spaces for students to seek treatment from therapists, counsellors and psychological wellbeing practitioners. There will also be dedicated group rooms for NHS-run clinics, workshops, and group therapy. 

Councillor Theresa Fowler, Mayor of Brighton & Hove, said “This new centre is an important investment in our wider community, bringing together University wellbeing services alongside NHS provision. This building is not just a physical space, but a symbol that wellbeing matters, that support should be easy to access, and that strong partnerships between institutions and public services benefit us all.” 

Practice Manager Anne Scott said “Sharing this purpose-built space with the University therapeutic services will provide valuable opportunities for closer collaborative working to support student health and wellbeing. While we continue to care for a large student population, the practice also serves members of the wider community, and our team will continue delivering comprehensive NHS general practice services for all our patients. We look forward to welcoming patients to our new premises and continuing to provide care for both physical and mental health in a modern and accessible environment.”  

The centre opening marks a significant milestone for the University’s new West Slope development which will incorporate almost 2,000 brand-new bedspaces, including some fully adaptable rooms with carers’ accommodation. The first phase opens this September with around 376 rooms, with further rooms becoming available in September 2027 and the final phase completed in September 2028. 

The new housing will mean more students can benefit from living on campus in their first year of study and beyond, including living within walking distance of lectures, no requirement for a deposit or guarantor and water and electric bills included in the accommodation fee, with teaching, learning, social spaces and student support services on their doorstep. 

Amenities will include a supermarket, a children’s playground and a dedicated social hub plus easy access to open space, with nature walks just moments away from their accommodation. The design will provide greater access for all, including step-free routes and internal and external lifts. Sustainability features will include native planting, green roofs, solar panels and water recycling.   

The centre will open to patients on Monday 15 June - members of the public and students can check the surgery’s catchment area and register as a new patient online.