Estate Strategy 2011–2015 - University of Portsmouth

Two other possibilities which were not in University
ownership were identified in the previous Estate
Strategy, namely the site of the Tennis Dome in
Cambridge Road (currently in MOD ownership
and leased to Portsmouth City Council) and the
site of the Swimming Pool in Victoria Park (owned
by Portsmouth City Council). Whilst the former of
these two remains a possibility in the future, at the
time of drafting this Strategy the University is in the
final stages of negotiations to acquire the site of the
swimming pool in Victoria Park for a mixed student
residential and academic space development.
In addition to these two sites, land to the rear of and
in the ownership of the New Theatre Royal (NTR) has
also been identified as a possible future development
site for the location of certain aspects of the various
performing arts departments.
5.3 Planning studies
In order to provide a realistic basis for the satisfaction
of future development needs the University
commissioned studies of the North Campus,
the southern end of Ravelin Park and the site at
Eastney in an effort to establish acceptable levels of
development in these areas.
5.3.1 North Campus
The removal of temporary buildings at the
rear of the Anglesea and Burnaby Buildings
was undertaken using HEFCE Poor Estates
Initiative funding from 1999 onwards. This led
to the creation of a number of development
opportunities in this area, and architects
Stubbs Rich were commissioned to examine
the options for its future and that of the North
Campus more generally.
The study concluded that it would be possible
to undertake a phased redevelopment of five
buildings on the area between Anglesea and
Burnaby buildings which when completed
would provide over 15,800m 2 of new space
whilst demolishing approximately 8,350m 2
resulting in a net addition of approximately
7,450m 2 . These proposals were supported by
the local planning authority and approved by
the Board of Governors as the preferred route
for future development of the North Campus.
The Dennis Sciama Building is the first building
of this plan, possible without significant
demolition, and was completed and opened
for use in January 2009 and provided a new
home for the Institute of Cosmology and
Gravitation, a variety of general purpose
teaching spaces and new staff and student
catering facilities.
5.3.2 Ravelin Park South
The Ravelin Park plan previously mentioned
established the principle that developments
could be undertaken on the site of a
demolished building. This principle has been
adopted for the Student Centre building and
the Dental Outreach Centre. The previous
Students’ Union building, Alexandra House,
was located in the south west corner of
the Park and this site, together with the
adjacent Rotunda building site were reviewed
to establish the scale of buildings that
would be acceptable to the local planning
authority. This review, supported by the local
planning authority, concluded that buildings
of approximately 3,350m 2 and 1,750m 2
respectively were likely to be acceptable. The
Alexandra House building site is currently
being utilised as a car park under a temporary
planning permission.
5.3.3 Institute of Marine Sciences, Eastney
The site at Eastney was acquired from
the MOD in the mid 1990s and consists
of a collection of separate buildings on an
exposed site on a spit of land in Langstone
Harbour. Whilst the buildings provide adequate
accommodation in most respects there is
a need for additional space and the ability
to move between facilities in comfort when
the weather is inclement would be a distinct
advantage. A basic development plan was
produced in 2004 in order to demonstrate
how the site could be developed on a phased
basis whilst remaining operational. This was
undertaken to inform the location etc. of a
new building which has subsequently been
constructed and which effectively forms the
first phase of a development plan.
In 2009 architects were appointed to produce
a more detailed development plan which
satisfied the local planning authority and
enabled the University to progress the next
phase. The resulting document proposes
a further three phases of development
comprising individual buildings linked by a
common atrium/link which will enable users
to move between facilities in comfort. These
three phases provide a total of 2,231m 2
(GEA) of new space whilst demolishing some
1,107m 2 (GEA) of existing accommodation
thus providing a net additional 1,124m 2 (GEA)
of space. It is anticipated that the first of these
three phases will commence on site in 2010.
5.4 Other development opportunities
5.4.1 Wiltshire Building
The Wiltshire Building currently houses
performing arts and music activities and is
in many ways less than ideal. Should the
joint development with the NTR referred to
in paragraph 5.3 above come to fruition this
site is likely to be disposed of. However,
should this not turn out to be the case the
site provides a possible opportunity for
development in the future, ideally in connection
with the acquisition of adjacent properties to
create a more rational footprint. Initial thoughts
are that a development of approximately
3,500–4,500m 2 would be possible on the
rationalised site.
8 ESTATE STRATEGY 2011–2015 UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH