New UCL campus in Stratford given green light

A leading university has been given the green light to press ahead with plans to open a new campus in one of the most deprived areas of the country.

University College London's (UCL) proposals to set up a £1 billion centre for science, technology, education and research close to the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, have been formally approved by the local council, the institution said today.

The university said that Newham Council's decision gives it the go-ahead to continue developing its plans.

Newham was one of the host boroughs for London 2012, and the new campus would be in the Greater Carpenters neighbourhood, to the east of the Olympic Park.

According to official figures, Newham is one of the most deprived boroughs in the country.

UCL provost Malcolm Grant said: "Our outline proposition sets out why we believe that this is a major opportunity to create a world class residential and academic quarter that will be of real and lasting benefit to the Newham community, while also representing a significant step beyond Bloomsbury for UCL as we approach our bicentenary in 2026.

"UCL Stratford represents a truly long-term commitment by both organisations.

"UCL is a world-leading institution, but our plans for growth are currently limited by our central London location, so we need suitable space to support the development of world class teaching and research.

"UCL Stratford is not envisaged to be an east London satellite to our historic Bloomsbury campus, but a new internationally recognised research-led hub."

PA