Early last summer, our preparations for our new West Slope development got underway across campus as we set about upgrading utilities and moving key services out of the development zone. 

Huge progress has been made: We’ve built a new playground and basketball court near the family flats in Northfield, we’ve built a new laundrette next to Swanborough, we have moved our print unit from York House to Hastings building, built a new road, and we are now putting the finishing touches on a brand new and enhanced security centre in Bramber House. An enormous amount of work is also going into updating our campus utilities and improving their resilience. From new gas pipes, to new electricity cables, to new sewage and heating pipes – the list is extensive and work will be continuing over the coming months to complete these improvements. 

The next stage in the West Slope development is to begin to demolish buildings that are no longer in use. The first of the buildings to be demolished will be our old Park Village buildings. The demolition of Park Village is scheduled to start during the week beginning 10 April and will be ongoing throughout the Summer. The first buildings to be demolished are those at the centre of the site, furthest away from occupied residences.  This means that the blocks closest to residences will be demolished last, and will therefore help to absorb sound from the works. Sound from the work is expected to be consistent throughout the process, with occasional peaks in noise. Demolition will take place using equipment which will gradually break the building apart. Debris from the building will then be ground down on site, and will then be then reused to form the base of the main construction site. 

Join our Better Campus Viva Engage/Yammer group for more updates about how West Slope is taking shape.