Nottingham Trent University has revealed a new vision for its Brackenhurst Campus, which would see it build upon its reputation as a centre for land-based education, research and enterprise.
Ambitious plans for the 500-acre campus include a visitor centre, environment centre, a series of food and drink business incubators, redevelopment of equine, canine and animal facilities and additional student accommodation.
The campus, near Southwell, is home to the university’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences and has been a provider of land-based education and skills training for more than half a century.
The School offers specialist courses spanning animal and equine science, environmental and wildlife conservation, veterinary nursing, geography, horticulture, environmental science and food science and technology.
As well enhancing teaching and research, it is hoped the plans would enable the campus to become an important regional hub, providing a gateway to services and training for businesses across rural Nottinghamshire.
The aim is for the campus to become a centre for commercialisation, enterprise, networking and skills provision, providing important opportunities for businesses to utilise the university’s first-class facilities and expertise.
The project, expected to be phased in over the next five years, would help the university to build upon its impressive sustainability credentials and to showcase the campus as a farm and university working towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future.
Farm to fork message
The campus will have a strong ‘farm to fork’ message, with an emphasis on all stages of the production of food.
This vision for the campus follows the launch of the university’s strategic plan ‘Creating the University of the Future’, which is focused on five key ambitions: creating opportunity, valuing ideas, enriching society, connecting globally and empowering people.
The ‘flagship’ visitor centre would include a cafe, exhibition space and conference centre, while fledgling food and drink business incubators could utilise the campus’s state-of-the-art facilities and provide work placement opportunities for students.
The environment centre would be home to geography, environment and conservation teaching and research, and animal facilities – including equine, lambing and canine – would be created and redeveloped along with agricultural and horticultural spaces.
'Open and engaging' campus
"These exciting plans for Brackenhurst will make us a sector-leading campus for teaching and research in land-based sciences," said Professor Robert Mortimer, Dean of the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences.
He said: "We aim to be an open and engaging campus, working in collaboration with local to global partners to deliver sustainable solutions to resource challenges caused by climate change."
Professor Edward Peck, the Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, added: "I want to thank our partners across the County for working with us in putting together this ambitious and innovative plan for Brackenhurst, in particular the Town Council, District Council and County Council.
"We have been consulting widely over recent months with local businesses, civic agencies, and alumni and I am delighted that they have endorsed our vision."
