Cumbria University expansion approved

The University of Cumbria’s proposals for a 26,000 sq ft extension at its Lancaster campus have been granted planning consent by the city council. The university outlined plans to partly demolish the Askwith drama building at its Bowerham Road campus, and replace it with a three-storey teaching block and landscaping around the quad. The development site is to the south of the main group of university buildings. Designed by JCA Architects, the block will include a lecture theatre to accommodate 220 students alongside a range of flexible classrooms. The redevelopment of the Askwith building is part of a wider masterplan for the campus which is currently being developed by the University of Cumbria and aims to demolish poor building stock in order to create new academic districts and development sites over the next ten years. Construction of the facility is scheduled to be complete by autumn 2016. The development was signed off by Lancaster City Council at its planning committee meeting on 19 October.