Developing the West Slope
Learn about how we are growing our campus.
Campus development
We’re investing £200 million 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
New Campus Playground and Basketball Court Celebration
Posted on behalf of: Campus Development
Last updated: Thursday, 4 August 2022
University of Sussex women's basketball team enjoy our new basketball court
Yusuf Yusupov, young campus resident, opens new playground and basketball court with University of Sussex women's basketball team player Amani Al Zawawi, surrounded by campus families and
Our campus playground and basketball court both have a new home, and National Playday on 3 August, provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate!
Work is underway to prepare our campus for our new West Slope development and with the old playground and basketball court falling within the West Slope development area, their relocation presented a great opportunity to enhance our facilities by providing new play and sports equipment and upgrading the environment around them.
To celebrate our exciting new facilities, the Student Union and University of Sussex hosted a party for campus families, with Yusuf Yusupov, one of our young campus residents, bestowed the honour of cutting the ribbon on our new playground with the help of University of Sussex women’s basketball team player Amani Al Zawawi.
The new playground provides some fun colourful favourites such as swings, a playhouse and bouncers and has created a bright, safe environment for families visiting or living on campus to play and socialise. The new basketball court, which sits just behind the playground, is another place where children and adults alike can enjoy being outside, socialise and have fun together.
Leading developmental psychologists from the University of Sussex have highlighted the huge social benefits of children having the opportunity to play. Playday, which had the theme ‘All to play for – building opportunities for all children’ this year, encourages families, communities, and organisations large and small, to consider how they can build better opportunities for all children to play to support their physical and mental health, improve social skills and help them connect with their communities.
Robert Hutton, Director of Estates, Facilities and Commercial Services at the University of Sussex, said: "Providing engaging, safe and, importantly, fun, spaces for our campus families to play is hugely important to the University, and so we're delighted to have invested in creating this fantastic new playground as part of our West Slope development.
Professor Robin Banerjee, Head of Sussex’s School of Psychology, who was one of a group of UK mental health experts to make headlines in May 2020, when they called on then education secretary Gavin Williamson to prioritise play following the first national lockdown, voices support for the national day for play, which celebrates children’s right to play, as well as promotes the importance of play in children’s lives, saying:
“As we continue to navigate the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, much has been said about the need to help children catch up on ‘lost learning’ in relation to academic skills. But we also need to support children’s development in a much broader sense. Evidence shows that children’s mental health has been affected by the global pandemic, and we must provide ample opportunities for children to build and maintain positive social relationships.
“Play is crucial for the socio-emotional and socio-cognitive development of children and young people. It serves as a key context within which children establish and develop their peer relationships, which in turn are so important for the development of their social and emotional skills, mental health, and wellbeing.”
A further playground is planned as part of the West Slope development. Located near to new family residences, the playground will create an additional outdoor space for families to enjoy their surrounds, socialise and stay active.
The new playground and basketball court can be found next to Northfields residences (block 1).
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 couple of 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, will offer new 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.
Staying informed
Whether you work for Sussex or feel passionate about our campus, you can stay up-to-date with webinars and online events.