Student housing and amenities in the heart of a parkland setting

University of Sussex West Slope
Observatory view

The West Slope residential development for University of Sussex is part of the continuing evolution of the campus to improve the University's facilities, ensure the best possible student experience and continue the architectural legacy of Sir Basil Spence.

With a student pavilion and library at its heart, it provides three typologies of student rooms together with supporting student amenities:  student hubs, launderettes, a supermarket, health and wellbeing centre and a cafe.

The proposals were granted planning approval by a unanimous committee in May 2020.

Key Information

Sector: Higher Education, Residential

Client: University of Sussex

Location: Brighton

Completion: 2027

Size: 63,500 sqm

learning and living in the landscape

Set in the South Downs National Park, the landscape of the campus was described by Spence as  growing "of the soil of Sussex to become a natural part of this beautiful site."

The scheme retains the character of the existing parkland setting and the student clusters and townhouses propose an integrated architectural and landscape design. It is respectful of the existing mature trees and creates garden terraces around these trees for the smaller neighbourhood clusters of residences to use, occupy, and claim as part of their identity.

Team

Client Contractor
Balfour Beatty Investments
Planning
Parker Dann
Project Manager
Balfour Beatty
Engineering
Arup
Facade Specialist
Arup
CDM Advisor
Gardiner & Theobald
Access Consultant
Buro Happold
Ecologist
Temple Group
EIA Consultant
LUC
Landscape Architect
Grant Associates