estate strategy 2007-2017 - Publication Scheme - University of Stirling

development potential»» The City Expansion is a proposal to allocateland from 2015 for 1500 new houses andemployment in one of 3 possible locations, oneof these being in the Dunblane/Bridge of Allan/Causewayhead area. No details are included inthe Structure Plan as these will be dealt with inthe Local Plan»» The West Stirling Link Relief Road is intendedto complete the Stirling outer ring road byconnecting Causewayhead Road to Kildean RoadThe existence of major underground pipelinesor other infrastructure (including significant gasmains) under a site can have a major effect onthe building density which is allowed and thisdocument may need to be assessed against anyknown or intended developments.Sustainability, the need to limit impact on climatechange and the related requirement for developersto manage and reduce any impact on theenvironment will increasingly affect developmentproposals. A demonstration of compliance withsustainable development principles will be neededfor all proposals in future. This will includeaspects such as energy efficiency, increased useof sustainable public transport and on-site microgenerationof power.15. Potential for CollaborationThe University’s collaborative strength lies in twokey areas:»» articulation arrangements with a number ofeducational bodies with the aim of providingstudents with defined pathways for study orfor progressing between different coursesoffered by different institutions. Many of thesearrangements lead to a recognised qualificationvalidated by the University. The most recentpartnering arrangement is with a commercialorganisation and aims to recruit undergraduatestudents from overseas and provide them withthe necessary study and language skills priorto entry to an undergraduate degree course.The first students were recruited to the StirlingInternational Study Centre in Autumn 2007»» collaborative research activity where researchersfrom Stirling are working with researchersbased in other institutions in the pursuit ofapplications for research funding and theconduct of researchIts physical location in central Scotland is one ofthe University’s strengths but also means thatthere are few Higher or Further EducationInstitutions in close proximity. This means thatthe physical sharing of facilities or services is aparticular challenge.Exploratory discussions were held with ForthValley College in 2006 and 2007 as part of theirconsideration of a new estate strategy for thecollege. It is generally recognised that physicalco-location needs to academically-led. The twoorganisations portfolios are quite different andearlier discussions had reinforced the fact thatcollaboration was best based on articulation,co-location having not been identified as arequirement for this. Opportunities for sharingphysical facilities (sports and recreational) and forthe potential use of common estates services wereidentified but would have required the College’snew Stirling campus to be located as close to theUniversity as possible to make this a viable option.However, the College had already identified apreferred location in Stirling (the Raploch) whichsuited its business objectives and did not wish tore-open the appraisal of alternative locations. Thechosen location means that the sharing of facilitiesis not viable because of the distance betweenthe two locations. The same applies to be jointprovision of estates services.The University is a member of the Forth ValleyProperty Group alongside the three localauthorities, the health board and the emergencyservices. This group shares information aboutproperty and estate matters in the interest ofco-operation and efficiency. The University isworking closely with Stirling Council on anydisposals, in that these might be of interest to theauthority in relation to its priority for additionalaffordable housing, and on the provision ofstudent accommodation.38