THE University of the West of England has shelved plans to leave its Glenside campus on Blackberry Hill.
Plans to relocate the university’s School of Health and Social Wellbeing from the former Glenside Hospital buildings to its main Frenchay campus were first reported by the Voice in September last year.
The campus was earmarked a month later as a potential site for 300 new homes in Bristol City Council’s draft Local Plan for developments in the city.
However, UWE Bristol has now confirmed that significantly increased costs and spending cuts made necessary by its “current financial position” mean that the relocation plan has been dropped for the time being.
Financial issues
Confirming the decision in a statement to the Voice, a UWE Bristol spokesperson said: “Over the course of the summer period our contractors completed their initial programmes of work, to provide the University with accurate cost information for the Glenside relocation to Frenchay campus project, to help inform the decision on next steps.
“The projected costings of the project increased significantly, as more information about the work needed to be done to two buildings on Frenchay campus to house our health programmes became available.
“The University’s current financial position means we are having to make significant savings and reprioritise our planned capital funding expenditure projects.
“Collectively, this means that the University has made the decision, endorsed by its Board of Governors, not to proceed with any further work on the project at this time.
“It remains our intention to find a new home for the School of Health and Social Wellbeing at Frenchay campus. When market conditions are more favourable we will explore these options.
“Until then, we will continue to maintain and invest appropriately in Glenside campus to ensure it retains its currency as an outstanding place to learn for our current and future health professionals.
“The immediate and short-term future of the two buildings on Frenchay campus earmarked for redevelopment will be reconsidered as we look to create new commercial revenue income streams for the University.”
UWE Bristol owns the Glenside site, where around 6,000 health and social care students currently study and train. It has been there since 1996.
Glenside has about 300 staff, and 275 students live on the campus in university accommodation.
Hospital history of site
The site’s healthcare history dates back to 1861, when the hospital opened as the Bristol Municipal Lunatic Asylum.
The hospital buildings and grounds are Grade II-listed, which limits the changes that can be made either to modernise university facilities or redevelop the site.
The move from Glenside was part of UWE’s plans to create an Integrated Care Academy in partnership with the NHS, commercial, charity and independent healthcare sector partners.
Work had been due to start towards the end of this year, with a view to completing the new facilities at the Frenchay campus by September 2026.
UWE does not own the Riverside Adolescent Unit, an NHS facility at Glenside for teenagers with mental health issues.
It does own the former hospital chapel, which is currently home to the volunteer-run Glenside Hospital Museum.
In July the Voice reported that the museum, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, was looking at the possibility of finding a new home if it could not stay at Glenside.
Consultant director Stella Man said the UWE Bristol announcement means the museum will be able to stay at Glenside for the time being, although it may still move in the long term.