University of York campus expansion plans unveiled

The massive scheme at Heslington East is set to see a new social and catering building being created to provide a bar and dining area for students who will be based at the second phase of the new site.

The proposals have now been submitted to City of York Council, with a decision set to be taken at a meeting of the authority's planning committee tomorrow, and 17 staff are expected to be employed on the site if it is given the go-ahead.

The second phase of the £500 million expansion will also include a 600-bed accommodation block for students. A spokesman for O’Neill Associates, the university’s planning agents, said in a statement forming part of the application: “The social and catering building is an important piece of social infrastructure for the new campus

“The facility will incorporate a licensed bar, a bistro, a coffee bar and a range of seating areas with tables for dining, drinking and informal study.

It will be open for between 46 and 48 weeks over the year, closing at Christmas and at selected points of lower demand outside of term time.”

The facilities within the proposed building are earmarked to operate until 11pm every day of the week, with 12 full-time and five part-time staff being employed there.

The bar and dining areas would be split over two levels.

There would be a ground floor and a mezzanine floor, and plasma screens showing sport and other events are expected to be included in the scheme.

The building would be placed in a “prominent” position around a central square designed to become the hub of the expansion’s second cluster.

O’Neill say it is intended to be “the focus for social activity within the new campus”.

The firm also said it should remove the need for Heslington East students to use social areas within the existing Heslington West campus and help create a “new university community”. Planning officers have recommended approving the scheme ahead of tomorrow's meeting.