Our planning team has secured planning permission for a new multi-million pound engineering building at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). Work has now begun on the facility at Frenchay campus that will provide specialist workshops, study areas and laboratories accommodating a wide range of engineering disciplines such as composite manufacturing, machining and metrology.

The building, granted consent by South Gloucestershire Council, will contribute to the University’s vision of promoting multi-disciplinary, collaborative learning and supports the predicted increase in demand for skilled engineering graduates across the region.

Professor Steve West, UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor and President, said: “We want to make UWE Bristol one of the top schools of engineering in the country.

“The building will help attract a diverse, creative and innovative student body to the engineering profession, address the future skills gap in the region and respond to the emerging demand for engineering Degree Apprenticeships.”

Karl Scholz, planning associate responsible for securing planning, said: “We are delighted to have received planning permission for this exciting project at UWE Bristol.  This is the latest in a series of permissions we have achieved for the University to help them deliver high quality academic facilities for staff, students and the local community.”

Gary Overton, director of the building’s architect AHR, said: “The building’s expansive use of light, combining circulation with social learning spaces will promote openness and encourage an inclusive educational experience for a diverse range of student engineers. We are looking forward to delivering upon the University’s vision for 21st century, problem-based engineering.”

More than 1,600 undergraduate and postgraduate students, along with 100 academic and technical staff, will be based in the building with construction scheduled to be complete in June 2020.